By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, February 28, Mana: Chia Fish Cooperative from Mtanga 2 Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Kalimanjira in Nkhotakota District boasts to have dealt with fish post-harvest losses under the support from Sustainable Fisheries Aquaculture Development and Watershed Management (SFAD-WM) Project by the Malawi Government.
Secretary for Chia Fish Cooperative, Shabani Mtira, was speaking Thursday during a media tour organized by the Department of Fisheries in Nkhotakota aimed at appreciating the impact the project has rendered to the community.
Mtira revealed that the project has provided them with modern infrastructure which, among others, houses fish processing rooms, cold rooms, market shed and a refrigerated van which ferries processed fish to various markets.
“With these facilities, we can process, store and ferry fish to designated markets within and outside the district, a development which has increased profits and minimized post-harvest losses,” Mtira said.
Chairperson for Mtanga 2 Beach Village Committee, Jane Tambala, concurred with Mtira, adding that apart from being equipped with skills in fish management best practices, they have also been provided with materials to help execute their operations effectively.
Nkhotakota Principal Fisheries Officer, Symon Ngwira has commended the project saying it has contributed to improved living standards among the cooperative members and dealing with illegal fishing on Lake Malawi.
“Fish processors can supply processed fish with high quality to outlet sellers and consumers, and this is benefiting the whole fish supply chain,” Ngwira said.
Senior Deputy Director of Fisheries responsible for Outreach and Training, Jacqueline Kazembe, asked the project's beneficiaries to be organized and focused in their operations to ensure that the fruits continue to ripen beyond the project’s timeline.
Malawi Government is implementing SFAD-WM project through the Department of Fisheries with financial assistance from the African Development Bank.
