Thirty selected farmers and members of Network of Expert in Agro-business Development (NEAD) in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District have attended a five- day capacity building training on Integrated Pest Management and Best Practices in vegetable production at Breman Asikuma. It was to equip the participants with more knowledge on vegetable production, especially pepper that had been identified as a potential for rapid economic growth in the district. The National Board for Small Scale Industry (NBSSI) under the auspices of Rural Enterprises Development in collaboration with the assembly organized the training, with technical and financial support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The participants were taken through preparation of organic chemical like Neem extract, organic chemical application, methods of preventing and controlling pests and the environment. They were in addition, sensitized on international good agricultural practices to increase production and export regulations. Mr Samuel Asiedu, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Officer of NBSSI, said vegetable production would improve the local economic development of the district. He said NEAD would establish small-scale irrigated vegetable farms at Brakwa, Amanfopong and Ayipey to produce vegetables on large scale for export and local consumption. Mrs Nana Adjoa Asiam, Programme Officer of JICA said, the irrigated farms would ensure all year round production of vegetables by farmers to enable them earn more to improve their living standards and reduce poverty. She said JICA had provided 21,000 dollars to support the project that would help to create jobs for about 300 people. Mrs Asiam, said under the project the farmers would work in collaboration with Ghana Export Promotion Council to ensure easy marketing of their produce outside the country. Source: GNA