Kumasi, March 6, GNA - Cottage Italia Industries Ghana Limited, an agro-processing company, has announced its determination to support agriculture development in the country.

Mr. Frank Opeku, Ashanti Regional Manager of the Company, said it would train farmers in the area in farming techniques, to enable them to increase yield and reduce post-harvest losses. He told GNA in Kumasi that the company had started a training programme to build the capacity of selected farmers in the region. Mr. Opeku said the farmers would be taught efficient ways of processing tomatoes, cassava, meat, mangoes, pineapple, milk and other agriculture produce.

He said farmers would also be equipped with skills in packaging, preserving and marketing products. Mr. Opeku advised them to form co-operatives to enable them to access loans to support them to expand their farms and to diversify their activities, practice mixed farming and agro-forestry to raise their income levels.