Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region is encouraging the youth to go into livestock farming to address unemployment in the area.

Officials identify rabbit and grass-cutter rearing as potentially lucrative activities for the youth.

Carved out of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Asokore-Mampong Municipality is heavily populated.

The rapid expansion of residential facilities leaves the area with little land for large-scale farming.

Municipal Director for Agriculture, Josephine Annor says the establishment of a training centre to spearhead cottage farming is at an advanced stage.

“We have started training and we have set our mother project up. It is from there that we are going to breed the animals and give them out. We are partnering with the Assembly to give them the cages for that,” she said.

She reveals the prolific nature of rabbits together with the increase in their demand make it a good business venture.

She was speaking at the Municipal Farmers Day durbar ahead of the national edition in Kumasi scheduled for  Friday, December 1, 2017.

The Farmers’ Day celebration saw recognition of efforts of all farmers in the Municipality.

Distinguished farmers were celebrated for contributing to food security efforts.

Municipal Chief Executive, Alidu Seidu, reiterated support for young individuals with interest in farming.

“Some young people here have shown great interest in poultry keeping and the Assembly is finding ways of working with them. We are ready to support any young person following that example,”, he said.