Business
Exploit Fish Resource In Rivers, RMRDC Tells RSG
The Rivers State Coordinator of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Mrs Felicia Chilaka has called on the Rivers State Government to exploit the abundant fish resources in order to empower the citizenry.
Giving the challenge in an exclusive chat with The Tide Mrs. Chilaka said fish processing activities can provide employment opportunities for the youths and women as well.
She lamented that a lot fish products are wasted because of lack of adequate preservation and processing which can equally earn good revenue for the government.
The RMRDC coordinator observed that since the state is blessed with abundant water resources, government can support women and youths in the rural areas to start small fish processing industries to sustain the local economy.
“Since power is a general problem they can provide them with Kiln so that most of the fishes caught in those areas can be preserved, packaged for sale outside the state,” Chilaka remarked.
Also she stated that government can install cool rooms at the coastal communities, decrying that most of the fishes caught in those areas do not find their way to the city centre due to poor preservation.
Apart from fish, she observed that the state is replete with abundant palm products which serves as raw materials for the furniture and soap making industries.
Mrs. Chilaka also pointed out that cassava has about 11 raw materials that can be processed into different uses for consumption.
Expressing worry that the State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) was becoming moribund, she tasked the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to exploit agriculture as a way of providing economic life line for the people.
This she submitted can be done by identifying agricultural resources that are economic viable, noting that the state should go beyond fish farming to processing and exporting.