Gender Inclusive Financing for Scaling up Improved Fish Processing Technologies in Malawi
Fisheries and aquaculture employ 800 million people globally and provide 3.1 billion people with 20% of their animal protein. In Malawi, fish consumption contributes approximately 70% of animal protein and is a good source of essential fatty acids and micronutrients (Government of Malawi, 2017). Small fish species in particular, when eaten whole, are rich in calcium, vitamin A, iron, and zinc. These nutrients are more effectively absorbed than those obtained from other sources and they are essential to cognitive and physical development.
However, declining fish stocks and high post-harvest losses — estimated at 34% — are threatening food and income security. Evidence from “Combining post-harvest fish value chains and social change interventions in Zambia and Malawi”, a project from the first phase of the Cultivate Africa’s Future (CultiAF-1) initiative, demonstrated that improved fish smoking kilns and solar tent dryers are environmentally friendly, effective, and economically viable fish processing technologies. However, scaling efforts were hampered by various challenges, including low access to capital by women and youth; lack of certification, which limited market opportunities; and limited packaging improvements for the processed fish.
In this second phase of CultiAF, strategies will be tested for scaling up fish solar tent dryers and improved fish smoking kilns, particularly targeting women and youth. The goal is to improve the food and income security of artisanal fish processors and other value chain actors in the fisheries sector. Strategies will involve innovative financing from sources including commercial banks, village savings and loan associations, and microfinance organizations; bulking; improved packaging; and links to formal markets. The project will assess these strategies for their cost effectiveness and their capacity to reach many people, especially women and youth. Additionally, the project will evaluate the impact of the model on the reduction of post-harvest losses, women’s economic empowerment, and fish availability and consumption.
Project ID
108865
Project Status
Active
End Date
Duration
18 months
IDRC Officer
Edidah Lubega Ampaire
Total Funding
CA$ 621,293.00
Location
Malawi
Programs
Agriculture and Food Security
Institution Country
malawi
Project Leader
Dr. Levison Chiwaula
Institution
University of Malawi
Outputs
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Gender inclusive financing for scaling up improved fish processing technologies in Malawi Report
Improved Fish Processing Technologies (IFPTs), such as improved smoking kilns (ISK) and fish solar tent dryers (FSTD) possess great potential in reducing fish postharvest losses along the fish value chain, while improving fish supply and consumption. This project developed an innovative business model to scale-out adoption of IFPTs among women, and youth, as well as men. The model is comprised of the IFPTs, a gender inclusive commercial bank loan package, markets for fish products from the IFPTs, certification by the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS), and supply chains for IFPTs. Author(s): Chiwaula, Levison S., Ngochera, Maxon, Nankwenya, Bonface, Msapato, Kawawa Language: English |
Profitability of improved fish processing technologies in Malawi Brief
The study assesses the level of profitability of using improved smoking kilns and solar tent dryers in processing fish. As well it assesses the marketability of fish from improved fish processing technologies, and develops investment profiles associated with the adoption of the new technologies. The profitability analysis can help demonstrate the level of profits to lenders, as well as the ability of the borrowers to service their investment loans in new technology. There is need for financing mechanisms that are flexible and which consider the characteristics of the fishing and fish processing industry. Author(s): Chiwaula, Levison Language: English |
Inclusive financing for scaling improved fish processing technologies in Malawi Brief
Researchers will test a scaling-out model that targets women and youth, with innovative financing from different sources including commercial banks, village savings and loan associations, microfinance organizations, and links to formal markets. Also, researchers will design and test strategies for scaling-up fish solar tent dryers for small fish species, and improved fish smoking kilns for larger fish species. The aim is to improve food and income security of artisanal fish processors in the fisheries value chain. Evidence from phase 1 of the project indicates that improved fish smoking kilns and solar tent dryers are environmentally friendly, effective and economically viable. Author(s): Cultivate Africa’s Future (CultiAf) Language: English |
Financement inclusif pour le développement à plus grande échelle des technologies avancées de transformation du poisson au Malawi Dossiers
Author(s): Cultivate Africa’s Future (CultiAf) Language: French |
Gender inclusive financing for scaling up improved fish processing technologies in Malawi Brief
Evidence from the project has shown that improved fish smoking kilns and solar tent dryers are environmentally friendly, effective and economically viable fish processing technologies. This policy brief outlines an innovative communication system as a vehicle for disseminating information for adoption of the new processing techniques. The strategy will promote scaling up of improved technologies as a package. These packages will include processing, marketing, business approach and financing mechanisms. The communication messages will be created utilizing gender-transformative approaches to transform the underlying power inequalities and social norms, with the aim of ensuring increased participation of women and youth. Author(s): Nagoli, Joseph, Binauli, Lucy, Magalasi, Mufunanji, Chiwaula, Levison S. Language: English |