Read at :
http://www.new-ag.info/developments/devItem.php?a=1870
Woman organising to improve livelihoods
With high year-round temperatures and a limited supply of ice and cold storage facilities at landing sites in the Gambia, a large proportion of fish caught by artisanal fishermen is smoked or dried. Women make up over 80 per cent of the country’s post-harvest operators (PHO) – who dry and smoke the fish – but they often lack the finances, training and processing facilities to reduce post-harvest losses and improve the quality of the fish they produce.
By organising women into groups and providing them with training, resources and credit, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), through the Post Harvest Fisheries Pilot Project of the Sustainable Fisheries Livelihood Programme (SFLP), has enabled post-harvest processors in ten communities to participate more effectively in decision-making processes and improve the efficiency and sustainability of their businesses.
Improving livelihoods
After forming ten community-based fishery organisations (CBO), the members received training in more effective and hygienic handling, processing and storage techniques, which has enabled them to preserve and sell more fish. For example, fresh fish are now transferred to baskets with ice after landing instead of being dumped on the beach. Improved awareness about environmental health issues has also resulted in monthly beach cleaning exercises in collaboration with local authorities in all ten communities. “With this training I am now in a better position to adopt simple business principles and maximise my profit,” explains one PHO from Kartong.
(continued)
