Domeabra (Ash), March 19, GNA- The Kumasi Institute of Tropical Agriculture (KITA) with support from the Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment is to train over 1,000 unemployed youth with skills in bee-keeping, rearing of rabbit and the cultivation of exotic vegetables. Training of the youth, which falls under the skilled training and employment placement programme of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS), is the first phase of the vocational programme. Mr Samuel Owusu-Takyi, Senior Technical Officer of the KITA, disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Domeabra near Kumasi on Thursday.

He said five regions, Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Northern and the Upper East and West, are to benefit from the programme. Mr Owusu-Takyi said KITA would also work in close collaboration with the various district assemblies of the beneficiary regions, the chiefs and unit committees to help secure land.

"These tracks of land would be used for the setting up of cluster farm villages or settlements where those who have been trained would be assisted with some capital to establish their business concerns", he added.

The KITA is also mandated to work with micro financial institutions and the rural banks to secure financial packages for those to be trained, Mr Owusu-Takyi said.

He, however, said since those trained will be made to settle on a common land, their activities and ventures will be closely monitored to ensure that they are able to re-pay the loans. Mr Owusu-Takyi said the training programme was a practical effort by the government to reduce poverty in the country. 19 March 04