377
The sustainable livelihoods framework (SLF) model divides livelihood assets into
five groups: human, natural, financial, physical and social capital. Within the framework and this study, there is a close link between the human and social capital and the
vulnerability context, particularly shocks. This is because some of the shocks are the
result of systems of natural resource management in a community. The perceptions and
behaviours towards the natural resources, especially woodfuel, are assessed in the
study. Under financial capital, the income levels of the FPs are assessed. Access to
microfinancing institutions or other alternatives such as village banks gives insight into
how the technologies have improved their income, as well as how much the FPs can
contribute towards maintaining and upscaling construction of solar tent dryers. The
physical capital assessed are: access to the dryer and other fish processing resources,
transportation as well as information. Linga EPA is accessible by road and is closest to
the trading centre, which entails having better access to markets than other communities along Lake Malawi shoreline do. The social capital looks at the family dynamics of
the FPs and how these affect their trade. Access and control of resources, especially
income, were crucial, especially because most FPs are women, some of whom may not
have control over their income. Involvement in different community groups is also
assessed, especially the way it contributes to the sustainable management of the dryers.
The transformational structures and procedures in the SLA relate to the levels of
governance, the role of the private sector, the laws, policies, culture and institutions
within the community. In this regard, the local governance structures are assessed in
terms of how they serve the local communities, how information flows and how
decisions are made between the local, district and national levels. Thus, the assessment includes the laws and policies governing the trade of fish in Malawi and how
the local communities inform policy processes.
Governance is also assessed in terms of how the laws and policies are followed
through in the district. Similar assessment is made for the private sector, of which
SEED-Fish is part. The project is assessed in terms of how it has worked with both
the local government as well as the communities themselves. Only men catch fish
out in the lake, but women are involved in inland processes, including owning gear,
processing and marketing of the products. The culture of the community is also
assessed in terms of how the fish value chain is organised and by assessing the perceptions of the fisherfolk towards the roles that men and women have.
3 Results and Discussion
3.1 Fish Processing in Chipala and Vinthenga: Value Chain
and Value Addition
The results (n, 99) show that only about 28% of the fish bought from fishers is sold
by wholesalers, while 72% is sold by retailers. The proportions per processing
method are based on the method that a respondent used the most, which indicated
that though fresh fish is preferred, there are few FPs who solely sell fresh fish. In
Between the Sun and Fish Are People: A Socio-economic Study of Solar Dryers for Fish…
The sustainable livelihoods framework (SLF) model divides livelihood assets into
five groups: human, natural, financial, physical and social capital. Within the framework and this study, there is a close link between the human and social capital and the
vulnerability context, particularly shocks. This is because some of the shocks are the
result of systems of natural resource management in a community. The perceptions and
behaviours towards the natural resources, especially woodfuel, are assessed in the
study. Under financial capital, the income levels of the FPs are assessed. Access to
microfinancing institutions or other alternatives such as village banks gives insight into
how the technologies have improved their income, as well as how much the FPs can
contribute towards maintaining and upscaling construction of solar tent dryers. The
physical capital assessed are: access to the dryer and other fish processing resources,
transportation as well as information. Linga EPA is accessible by road and is closest to
the trading centre, which entails having better access to markets than other communities along Lake Malawi shoreline do. The social capital looks at the family dynamics of
the FPs and how these affect their trade. Access and control of resources, especially
income, were crucial, especially because most FPs are women, some of whom may not
have control over their income. Involvement in different community groups is also
assessed, especially the way it contributes to the sustainable management of the dryers.
The transformational structures and procedures in the SLA relate to the levels of
governance, the role of the private sector, the laws, policies, culture and institutions
within the community. In this regard, the local governance structures are assessed in
terms of how they serve the local communities, how information flows and how
decisions are made between the local, district and national levels. Thus, the assessment includes the laws and policies governing the trade of fish in Malawi and how
the local communities inform policy processes.
Governance is also assessed in terms of how the laws and policies are followed
through in the district. Similar assessment is made for the private sector, of which
SEED-Fish is part. The project is assessed in terms of how it has worked with both
the local government as well as the communities themselves. Only men catch fish
out in the lake, but women are involved in inland processes, including owning gear,
processing and marketing of the products. The culture of the community is also
assessed in terms of how the fish value chain is organised and by assessing the perceptions of the fisherfolk towards the roles that men and women have.
3 Results and Discussion
3.1 Fish Processing in Chipala and Vinthenga: Value Chain
and Value Addition
The results (n, 99) show that only about 28% of the fish bought from fishers is sold
by wholesalers, while 72% is sold by retailers. The proportions per processing
method are based on the method that a respondent used the most, which indicated
that though fresh fish is preferred, there are few FPs who solely sell fresh fish. In
Between the Sun and Fish Are People: A Socio-economic Study of Solar Dryers for Fish…