Brazzaville, Congo (PANA) - The government in Congo Friday announced it would start a rural development project in the districts of Plateaux (central) and Cuvette Ouest (north) next month, using an 8-billion FCFA loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The ministry of Agriculture Friday in Brazzaville said the loan, repayable between 2004 and February 2014, will be used in the three districts of the project, aimed at sustainably increasing income and providing food security for the target population.

Target groups are farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen.

The project is also aimed at improving access to markets and to production areas. It will finance the renovation of about 400-km of farm-to-market roads to enable access to areas with high production potential.

It includes plans to build local capacities, as well as support the development of agriculture and fisheries through extension and dissemination centres.

Regarding fisheries, the project will introduce drift gill nets, improved fish cooking techniques (Chorchor-type ovens), as well as techniques for the conservation and marketing of fresh fish.

Hence, a rural radio station in Owando, 650km north of Brazzaville, has planned to disseminate practical information on prices of commodities, marketing and farming techniques. .