In a statement yesterday, Indian Ocean Commission’s (IOC) SmartFish Programme said 140 fish processors from five fish landing sites in Zanzibar received the training whose focus included quality and packaging.
“We are providing the opportunity to move away from their reliance on DR Congo buyers, who currently have significant power in the value chain, whilst also helping the government to monitor fishing and trade activity and thus break the hold that these distribution systems has on the sector in Zanzibar,” said IOC-SmartFish trade expert Chris Short.
Mr Short said as a result of the training with support from the fisheries department, the Zanzibar government has started to implement new standards for pelagic fish processing but is also collecting revenue from the sector that was previously forgone.
He said the training and quality control will help the isles’ artisanal fishermen access new markets and reach new clients. It was therefore essential to improve products’ quality and packaging.
He said the training and quality control will help the isles’ artisanal fishermen access new markets and reach new clients. It was therefore essential to improve products’ quality and packaging.
The training passed on important knowledge concerning maintaining fish hygiene and quality during handling and processing. It also imparted practical skills with regards to correct processing procedures, the IOC-SmartFish Programme statement added.
The training is supported with additional value chain support such as providing drying racks, processing equipment, weighing and packaging equipment as well as management tools such as computers, to keep track of traded volumes.
In the coming days, further training will be provided that will cover product packaging and market testing in Zanzibar, as well as markets in Mainland Tanzania.
“A key aspect of this work is that it will also help to reduce losses that occur during the process of landing and processing the fish (post-harvest losses), which currently means a significant reduction in income to the sector in Zanzibar,” the statement noted.
This training was organised following some previous training covering an additional 70 processors. The IOC-SmartFish Programme has organised 20 similar fish handling focused training initiatives in 15 countries, the statement noted.
The Indian Ocean Commission and FAO support small scale fisheries in Eastern-Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Region through the IOC-SmartFish Programme funded by the European Union
This Programme aims at contributing to an increased level of social, economic and environmental development and deeper regional integration in the ESA-IO through improved capacities for the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources.
The programme is financed by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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