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1 Introduction
Lake Malawi is home to the largest number of fish species in a fresh water body, in
the world, with an estimated around 1000 fish species, most of which are indigenous
to Lake Malawi (MBERU 2001). The lake has attracted tourists, but most importantly, its fish has been a major source of protein for most of the population in
Malawi, as fish has been the cheapest source of protein in the country (Matiya et al.
2005). However, while the lake attracts a lot of glory, fish populations are dwindling
(USAID 2015). Furthermore, there are post-harvest losses incurred. These changes
have consequences for the country’s fish industry, but also for those who mainly
depend on fish for their livelihood: the fisherfolk. Thus, the livelihoods of the fisherfolk form the basis of this investigation, more especially fish processors who are
involved in all post-harvest activities.
This study analyses the contributions of a research project titled ‘Sustainable
Environment and Enterprise Development for Climate Change Adaptation in
Fisheries (SEED-Fish)’ towards improved livelihoods. Funded by the Capacity
Building for Managing Climate Change (CABMACC), SEED-Fish was implemented in Linga Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Traditional Authority (TA)
Malengachanzi, in Nkhotakota district in Malawi. The project was managed and
coordinated by the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science at Mzuzu
University (Mzuni) in partnership with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and
Natural Resources (LUANAR, Bunda College), the Malawi Department of Fisheries
Research Unit at Monkey Bay in Mangochi district (FRU) and WorldFish – Malawi
Centre in Zomba district.
The project was implemented with the main objective to improve incomes and
livelihoods as well as environmental management of fisherfolk communities, to
enhance their resilience to the effects of climate change. The project has three specific objectives:
(i) To evaluate, test and adopt the use of clean energy and sustainable processing
technologies on small fishes
(ii) To develop and test small-scale fisherfolk entrepreneurial model
(iii) To develop tools or models for building capacity and governance for improved
income and environmental conservation
During implementation of the SEED-Fish project, two solar tent dryers were constructed in Chipala and Vinthenga Beach Village Committees (BVC) areas in 2015
and 2016 for the implementation of the SEED-Fish project. The reports, since
installation of the dryers, show immense appreciation of the technology by the fish
processors (FPs) such that there is need for more solar tent dryers as demand has
overstretched supply (SEED-Fish 2016) in one of the villages. Following this development, the project intended to extend the holding capacity of the solar tent dryer at
Vinthenga Beach Village Committee (BVC) to include more shelving for drying
the fish.
F. W. Kayamba-Phiri et al.
1 Introduction
Lake Malawi is home to the largest number of fish species in a fresh water body, in
the world, with an estimated around 1000 fish species, most of which are indigenous
to Lake Malawi (MBERU 2001). The lake has attracted tourists, but most importantly, its fish has been a major source of protein for most of the population in
Malawi, as fish has been the cheapest source of protein in the country (Matiya et al.
2005). However, while the lake attracts a lot of glory, fish populations are dwindling
(USAID 2015). Furthermore, there are post-harvest losses incurred. These changes
have consequences for the country’s fish industry, but also for those who mainly
depend on fish for their livelihood: the fisherfolk. Thus, the livelihoods of the fisherfolk form the basis of this investigation, more especially fish processors who are
involved in all post-harvest activities.
This study analyses the contributions of a research project titled ‘Sustainable
Environment and Enterprise Development for Climate Change Adaptation in
Fisheries (SEED-Fish)’ towards improved livelihoods. Funded by the Capacity
Building for Managing Climate Change (CABMACC), SEED-Fish was implemented in Linga Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Traditional Authority (TA)
Malengachanzi, in Nkhotakota district in Malawi. The project was managed and
coordinated by the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science at Mzuzu
University (Mzuni) in partnership with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and
Natural Resources (LUANAR, Bunda College), the Malawi Department of Fisheries
Research Unit at Monkey Bay in Mangochi district (FRU) and WorldFish – Malawi
Centre in Zomba district.
The project was implemented with the main objective to improve incomes and
livelihoods as well as environmental management of fisherfolk communities, to
enhance their resilience to the effects of climate change. The project has three specific objectives:
(i) To evaluate, test and adopt the use of clean energy and sustainable processing
technologies on small fishes
(ii) To develop and test small-scale fisherfolk entrepreneurial model
(iii) To develop tools or models for building capacity and governance for improved
income and environmental conservation
During implementation of the SEED-Fish project, two solar tent dryers were constructed in Chipala and Vinthenga Beach Village Committees (BVC) areas in 2015
and 2016 for the implementation of the SEED-Fish project. The reports, since
installation of the dryers, show immense appreciation of the technology by the fish
processors (FPs) such that there is need for more solar tent dryers as demand has
overstretched supply (SEED-Fish 2016) in one of the villages. Following this development, the project intended to extend the holding capacity of the solar tent dryer at
Vinthenga Beach Village Committee (BVC) to include more shelving for drying
the fish.
F. W. Kayamba-Phiri et al.