Anomatoa (B/A) June 24, GNA - The Abrono Organic Farming Project, an NGO operating in Techiman Municipality, has drawn up a programme of workshops and seminars to educate people on the effectiveness of the technology on pest management and control.

Nana Kwaw Adams, Forikrom Twafohene and Executive Director of the NGO disclosed this at a one-day workshop on pest control for 30 farmers at Anomatoa in Techiman Municipality.

Nana Adams said a new technology involving the use of neem-tree, wood ash, pepper and onion mixed with water had been identified as a useful repellent against many pests and as organic manure. He called on farmers to adopt the usage of neem powder since it was bitter and can kill insects and moths in the storage of seeds. The executive director advised the farmers against the use of pesticides fighting plant pests, describing it as expensive in comparison with the danger caused by diseases and parasites. "Apart from being poisonous for human life, the pesticides have a slight effect on diseases", he said and appealed to farmers to sprinkle ash around the seedlings as soon as they sprout after transplanting. Mr. Charles Ampofo, Administrator of the NGO asked the participants to observe the differences between chemical application and organic manure in farming.

He said most European countries were no longer interested in practising agro-chemical farming, adding they had resorted to the usage of organic vegetable farming methods for their safe health.