NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK

TELEFOOD SPECIAL FUND PROJECT FORMAT

"Improved Drying of Fish"


Target group
Fishermen and fish processors in artisanal fisheries and small-scale fish culture; of particular relevance for situations with large seasonal catches of small pelagic fish (sardinella, bonga, anchovies, dagaa, kapenta, etc.)

Background and justification
Drying of fishery products suffers from lack of drying racks and alternative methods in times of cloudy and rainy weather. Drying racks made from wood and mats or wire mesh improve the quality of the final products and facilitate handling of products in order to protect them during adverse weather conditions. Plastic sheets are useful as a cover during showers. Fish can be pre-processed before drying to be less vulnerable and make a better product by salting, salting and pressing, boiling in salt water, smoking and by roasting.

Objectives
Reduction of post-harvest losses and increasing the incomes of fishermen and fish processors by improving the quality and quantity of dried fish products.

Duration of the project: Typically one year.

Outputs
A low-investment post-harvest system in place, able to cope with large seasonal catches and thus reducing post-harvest losses, increasing availability of fish and increasing incomes in fishing communities

Activities
Materials will be made available to the communities which can build the racks as part of their daily activities. Prerequisites are traditions for drying fish in the area.

Activity

Timing

Responsibility

  1. Identification of beneficiaries and of local technical support capacity; finalization of project document

Month 1

FAOR, FIIU (for advise)

  1. Purchase of materials (for concrete salting tank, moulds for pressing, large boiling pan, smoking oven), drying racks (wood and wire mesh), for covering the fish (plastic sheeting) and for fences.

Month 1

FAOR, FIIU (for advise) and national fish technologist

  1. Construction of equipment

Month 2

Community, national fish technologist

  1. Start of production

Month 3

Community, national fish technologist

  1. Monitoring and reporting as indicated in the guidelines
   

Linkages with other (FAO) projects
To be defined in every country. Possible links to some training activities in fish technology. Can easily be linked to the post-harvest component of any fishery project.

Inputs/Budget
Equipment and materials for pre-processing the fish and for drying; national fish technologist for backstopping the project. All equipment can be made locally.

Budget:

Equipment and materials (concrete salting tank, moulds for pressing, large boiling pan, smoking oven, drying racks, plastic sheeting and fences.

Transport costs

US$7,500


US$500

 

Total

US$8,000

Monitoring and reporting
The national implementing agency will be responsible for providing FAO with quarterly and final reports in an agreed format. The FAO Representation will be responsible for monitoring the progress of the project and ensuring, through independent audit, that the funds are used correctly.