Improved Fish Smoking and Loss Reduction among the Lake Malawi Chikombe Fishing Community - Malawi

This project focuses on improved fish processing and loss reduction among the Lake Malawi Chikombe fishing community. In Malawi the long term socio-economic implications of wastage in the post-harvest sub-sector of the fisheries involve a loss in income and nutritional benefits to the general population. Established methods of fish processing, especially smoking places great pressure on the valuable forest resources with deforestation and environmental degradation as an impact. There is concern over post-harvest losses in fish and fishery products in Malawi. Beyond financial setbacks for stakeholders, this problem has socio-economic implications for the wider community and women bear the brunt as they dominate the processing sub sector. This negative trend is likely to continue if action is not taken with appropriate technologies and adequate methods to preserve fish. The project intends to pilot the usage of fuel efficient smoking kilns to overcome the situation. The main goal is to reduce fish post-harvest losses by 15% in Chikombe fishing community. The methodology used is Participatory Action Research (PAR). The theoretical framework that underpins the project is the sustainable livelihoods framework. The project will use a gender-relational approach which aims at better benefit sharing generally, for both men and women. The expected outcome is reduced post-harvest fish losses and improved environmental and socio-economic conditions.