500 trained annually in mushroom production

Twimia Nkwanta (B/A), Nov.7, GNA - The Bencom Mushroom Enterprise Project at Twimia Nkwanta, near Techiman, trains more than 500 youth annually since 1992 in mushroom production, grasscutter rearing, bee keeping and snail farming.

Mr. Bernard Bempah, Managing Director of the Company announced this when briefing members of the Mushroom and Bee keeping Club from the Ejura Agricultural College in Ashanti Region on a study tour of the project site.

He said the project served as the training centre for the youth in the northern sector of the country.

Mr. Bempah said the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and Rural Enterprise Project, sponsored the training programmes to enable youth acquire skills for employment. He said students from some agricultural institutions in the country undertake practical training at the project site and appealed to financial institutions and NGOs to offer credit facilities to such students to initiate their own projects.

The Managing Director called for a review of the short-term granting of loans by some banks for grasscutter farmers, because the farmers usually enjoyed production after keeping the animals for a year. Mr. Issah Yakubu, Chairman of the club, said the visit had offered them the opportunity to study more about mushroom production and bee keeping.

He said nutrients in mushroom were good for the body and ready market for it. Mr. James Orhin, Secretary of the club said about 90 students of the college were members of the club.