Fisheries post-harvest and quality control

Abstract

Fish is a highly perishable commodity, which often leads to substantial post-harvest losses at the fish-landing sites due to the general lock of adequate storage facilities. Inadequate storage infrastructure and limited fish-handling and processing activities are some of the significant setbacks in efforts to maintain the quality of fish after they have been harvested. KCDP initiated improvement of the facilities at some key fish-landing sites which included Shirnoni. Kibuyuni, Faza, Jasini, Vanga, Moa and Mpeketoni. These interventions were geared towards the improvement of the cold, dried, fried and smoked fish chains. These sites were chasen due to their high potential in the production of fish and fisheries products. The KCDP implemented several infrastructural projects aimed at mitigating post harvest loses and quality control of fish and fishery products. These activities were conducted largely in Kwale and Lamu counties. In Kwale county fish-landing band as were renovated at Kibuyuni and Shimoni fish-landing sites. Several drying racks were introduced at Jimbo and Jasini fish-landing sites to improve the dried fish value chain. Modern fish-smoking ovens were also introduced at Moa and Mpeketoni fish-landing sites as an intervention geared towards improving the smoked fish value chain.