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Benefits of the Solar Drying Method
Fish processors in both villages appreciated the improved quality of dried fish
using the solar drying method. The participants indicated that the customers will
always buy the solar-dried fish first because of the appealing clear colour. Other
studies revealed related disadvantages of using the open sun-drying method, as
the fish is exposed to contamination as well as insect attack (Yean et al. 1998;
Banda et al. 2017). Furthermore, they state that open sun-drying is seasonal and
affects the quality of the product. Within the dry seasons, the fish must be exposed
to enough heat from the sun to dry evenly, which seldom happens, as noted by the
participants. The use of the solar dryers ensures that the heat captured in the tent
is evenly distributed. The participants also appreciated the difference in taste, noting that the sun-dried fish had a mild sour taste due to uneven drying. The betterquality solar-dried fish attracts an additional K500, normally representing a
13–15% increase in the price of a bucket of fish. Related findings on the cost of
solar-dried fish in other districts along Lake Malawi found it to be twice more
than sun dried (Chiwaula et al. 2018).
Actual fish processing times per method could not be estimated and compared
within the two villages as FPs in Vinthenga do not use the smoking or frying
methods, which are methods used in Chipala where there were no adopters of the
solar drying method. However, observations in Chipala showed that the frying
method was the most time consuming as it took 30 minutes on average to process
50 fish (Utaka).
The cost for firewood was the same in both villages, at MK100 per bundle of
three small pieces of wood. The dimensions of the bundle were estimated to be
2 cm
2
and 40 cm long. For 50–200 fish (Utaka), the FPs estimated 10 bundles of
firewood were required for using the frying method. The smoking method used
double the amount of firewood for the same amount of fish. However, for species
such as Oreochromis spp. (Chambo), the FPs expressed that more firewood is
used, even though they could not estimate, as none of them sold smoked Chambo.
Processing methods were preferred by FPs based on the best-quality fish (44%),
time efficiency (31%), minimal cost of inputs (19%) and customer’s preference
(6%). Respondents who preferred the solar drying method attributed it to time
efficiency. However, the analysis also shows that not all solar dryer users perceived the solar drying method as a preferred method.
Another advantage of using the dryer is reducing post-harvest losses during
the rainy season. Using the dryer achieves the project’s objective of reducing
post- harvest losses that are associated with climate variability, with prolonged
rainy seasons which affect fish processors’ income. One female FP who had used
the dryer in Chipala appreciated the fact that while FPs might not be able to use
the dryer consistently, it still reduces their post-harvest losses during the
rainy season.
Between the Sun and Fish Are People: A Socio-economic Study of Solar Dryers for Fish…
Benefits of the Solar Drying Method
Fish processors in both villages appreciated the improved quality of dried fish
using the solar drying method. The participants indicated that the customers will
always buy the solar-dried fish first because of the appealing clear colour. Other
studies revealed related disadvantages of using the open sun-drying method, as
the fish is exposed to contamination as well as insect attack (Yean et al. 1998;
Banda et al. 2017). Furthermore, they state that open sun-drying is seasonal and
affects the quality of the product. Within the dry seasons, the fish must be exposed
to enough heat from the sun to dry evenly, which seldom happens, as noted by the
participants. The use of the solar dryers ensures that the heat captured in the tent
is evenly distributed. The participants also appreciated the difference in taste, noting that the sun-dried fish had a mild sour taste due to uneven drying. The betterquality solar-dried fish attracts an additional K500, normally representing a
13–15% increase in the price of a bucket of fish. Related findings on the cost of
solar-dried fish in other districts along Lake Malawi found it to be twice more
than sun dried (Chiwaula et al. 2018).
Actual fish processing times per method could not be estimated and compared
within the two villages as FPs in Vinthenga do not use the smoking or frying
methods, which are methods used in Chipala where there were no adopters of the
solar drying method. However, observations in Chipala showed that the frying
method was the most time consuming as it took 30 minutes on average to process
50 fish (Utaka).
The cost for firewood was the same in both villages, at MK100 per bundle of
three small pieces of wood. The dimensions of the bundle were estimated to be
2 cm
2
and 40 cm long. For 50–200 fish (Utaka), the FPs estimated 10 bundles of
firewood were required for using the frying method. The smoking method used
double the amount of firewood for the same amount of fish. However, for species
such as Oreochromis spp. (Chambo), the FPs expressed that more firewood is
used, even though they could not estimate, as none of them sold smoked Chambo.
Processing methods were preferred by FPs based on the best-quality fish (44%),
time efficiency (31%), minimal cost of inputs (19%) and customer’s preference
(6%). Respondents who preferred the solar drying method attributed it to time
efficiency. However, the analysis also shows that not all solar dryer users perceived the solar drying method as a preferred method.
Another advantage of using the dryer is reducing post-harvest losses during
the rainy season. Using the dryer achieves the project’s objective of reducing
post- harvest losses that are associated with climate variability, with prolonged
rainy seasons which affect fish processors’ income. One female FP who had used
the dryer in Chipala appreciated the fact that while FPs might not be able to use
the dryer consistently, it still reduces their post-harvest losses during the
rainy season.
Between the Sun and Fish Are People: A Socio-economic Study of Solar Dryers for Fish…