Institute To Commence Cluster Development Scheme

Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has commenced plans to evolve a cluster development scheme in Rivers State as a way of boosting agricultural products.

The sate Coordinator of RMRDC, Mrs. Felicia Chilaka made the disclosure in an exclusive chat with The Tide.

She disclosed that the scheme is part of measures put in place by the federal government to exploit agricultural products in different parts of the country and that the states have been demarcated into zones based on their natural resources.

 According to her, areas identified include Omuma/Etche zone for palm produce including Ikwerre and Ogoni areas for cassava. The riverine areas of Okrika and Andoni for fish.

 Currently, she stated that the agency has commenced the identification of agric-cooperatives societies in those areas by registering them for the scheme.

 Immediately the cooperative are identified, Mrs. Chilaka noted that the government intends to provide each cluster with requisite technology to exploit those resources.

 “When we finish collating the forms each state would get something in line with the resources they have. One would be in a particular cluster for use by those farmers around there.

 She informed The Tide that techonogy include fish kiln, oil milling machine, kernel cracker and others.