Improved Processing and Marketing of Healthy Fish Products in Inland Fisheries in Malawi (CultiAF)
This project aims to improve the supply of quality fish products in Malawi by reducing post-harvest losses. Better livelihoods and nutrition Fish is an important source of nutrition in Malawi, and its fisheries sector a critical source of income and employment. Yet people are eating fewer fish. Fish supplies are low, which has resulted in declining per capita fish consumption. One of the underlying causes is how the fish are handled after they are harvested. Approximately 40% of fish harvested annually is lost during post-harvest activities. A solar solution This project aims to address the problem by testing and promoting solar tent dryers. These dryers have the potential to improve shelf life and product quality for small fish. Specifically, researchers will test drying methods for three small fish species: -Usipa (Engraulicypris sardella) -Utaka (Copadichromis spp.) -Ndunduma (Diplotaxodon spp.) The research team selected these fish for their high contribution to total annual catch, wide availability, and good nutritional profile. They will test different pre-drying methods: -no pre-drying treatment -parboiling -smoking -brining Solar dryer and business model testing Researchers will assess the solar dryers' economic performance. They will also develop and test a new business model that links private sector and women's cooperative-managed businesses to supermarkets and existing informal markets. The solar dryers are expected to use less firewood than existing fish processing methods. Researchers also anticipate the dryers will produce more hygienic fish products, resulting in -improved environmental performance -increased incomes for producers -improved nutritional outcomes for consumers Project leadership The project will be implemented by Chancellor College, University of Malawi in the Salima and Mangochi districts of Malawi and is funded through the Cultivate Africa's Future Fund (CultiAF), a joint program of the Australian International Food Security Research Centre of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and IDRC. CultiAF supports research to achieve long-term food security in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Project ID
107840
Project Status
Completed
End Date
Duration
30 months
IDRC Officer
Jemimah Njuki
Total Funding
CA$ 995,723.00
Location
Malawi
Programs
Agriculture and Food Security
Institution Country
malawi
Project Leader
Levison Chiwaula
Institution
University of Malawi
Outputs
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Better processing and marketing of healthy fish products in Malawi : project profile Brief
This project profile describes the objectives and methodology of the project which will bring solar drying tents to the fishing communities of Malawi. The research team will adapt and test solar fish-drying tents to reduce losses and develop new business models for fish processors. To promote adoption of the solar dryers, researchers will work with different actors in the fish value chain to create a sustainable business model. At the community level, low-income men, women, and young people who have traditionally struggled to access good quality processing facilities, will use the solar dryers. Author(s): Wrenmedia Language: English |
Better processing and marketing of healthy fish products in Malawi - project brief Brief
The project tested the effectiveness of solar fish drying tents for three Lake Malawi small fish species. Compared with traditional open sun drying, findings show that drying times for fish using solar tents are similar during the dry season, and shorter during the rainy season. The Ministry of Agriculture is promoting the solar tent dryers as a climate smart technology. They call the technology ‘Samva Nyengo’ a name which emphasizes that solar tent dryers are effective in all weather conditions. Only 0.8% of fish is lost when using solar tent driers compared to 11.3% when open-air sun drying. Author(s): Wrenmedia Language: English |
Gender differences in willingness to pay for capital-intensive agricultural technologies : the case of fish solar tent dryers in Malawi Article
To reduce fish postharvest losses, a fish solar tent dryer (image included) is being promoted along Lake Malawi. This paper analyses gender disparities in fish processors’ conditional willingness to pay (WTP), along with their willingness to pay towards a common or co-owned asset. Women have more endowments associated with a high probability of WTP, such as knowledge of the solar tent dryer, while men have more assets (such as education, selling to distant markets and fishing assets) and are therefore willing and able to pay a higher cost in dollars. Women lack access to income, education, capital, and access to markets. Author(s): Chiwaula, Levison, Chirwa, Gowokani Chijere, Binauli, Lucy, Banda, James, Nagoli, Joseph Language: English |
Inclusive ecosystems? Women’s participation in the aquatic ecosystem of Lake Malawi Article
Ecosystem services and their role in alleviating poverty are centered on a set of gendered social relations. The understanding of these relations between men and women in aquatic ecosystems can unveil gender-based opportunities and constraints along the value chains of the ecosystem services. A gender discourse perspective on participation of actors of an ecosystem can further facilitate the understanding of the complex and subtle ways in which gender is represented, constructed, and contested. This paper analyses the barriers to the participation of women in the fishing industry. The analysis is based on a study conducted in five fishing villages of Lake Malawi through a structured Questionnaire, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and observations. Author(s): Nagoli, Joseph, Binauli, Lucy, Chijere, Asafu Language: English |
Solar tent dryers lead to gender equality in the fish value chain Brief
The use of fish solar tent dryers has enabled more profitable, formal markets where dried fish products are sold at higher prices than at local markets. When compared to traditional sun drying methods, the solar tent technology has reduced the time for women to dry fish by more than 50%. Due to the positive impacts of training sessions which use gender transformative approaches (GTA) trainings, a second session on gender and leadership training saw an increase in male participation (128 men and 97 women). The solar tent dryers have been effective in improving economic and social aspects of fish processors’ work. Author(s): Nagoli, Joseph, Magalasi, Mufunanji, Binauli, Lucy, Chijere, Asafu, Chuwayka, Levison Language: English |
Les serres de séchage au soleil favorisent l’égalité entre les sexes au sein de la chaîne de valeur du poisson Dossiers
Author(s): Nagoli, Joseph, Magalasi, Mufunanji, Binauli, Lucy, Chijere, Asafu, Chiwaula, Levison Language: French |
Improved processing and marketing of healthy fish products in inland fisheries in Malawi - final technical report Report
The objective was to design, test and promote solar tent dryers to reduce postharvest fish losses while increasing economic gains and reducing the use of forest resources. Fish processors attached high values to sensory quality improvements and postharvest loss reduction attributes of solar tent drying. The project has increased awareness of solar tent dryers in the project area from 14% to 88%. There are now 188 individuals using solar tent dryers out of which 123 are women. Additional benefits of adoption of solar tent dryers are through improvements in the supply of quality fish to the country. Author(s): Chiwaula, Levison, Nagoli, Joseph, Kanyerere, Geoffrey Language: English |