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Fish value addition
COMRED’s fisheries value chain development aims to improve the livelihoods of Kwale fisherfolk through various interventions. A value chain assessment was conducted to identify existing initiatives, major challenges, and opportunities within the target communities in the Msambweni-Shimoni-Vanga seascape. Interventions include:
- Capacity building of fish value chain actors
- Development of fish value addition infrastructure
- Providing access to finance for value chain actors
Fish value addition infrastructure
COMRED is currently improving the processing methods for the small pelagic fish known as “dagaa” in Kibuyuni village. The community began processing dagaa in 2022, using basic methods that consume excessive fuel wood and involve poor drying techniques under unhygienic conditions due to limited access to necessary infrastructure and equipment, resulting in high levels of post-harvest losses. COMRED’s solutions at Kibuyuni include:
- Capacity building - life skills, business skills, entrepreneurship, fish handling skills - of fish value chain actors
- Providing access to finance for the Kibuyuni Dagaa Processors
- Development of fish value addition infrastructure;
- Construction of a processing area
- Installation of energy-saving jikos
- Fabrication of boiling and fish smoking equipment (FAO FTT kiln)
- Building drying racks, a toilet block, and a water tank
- Creation of a wastewater soak pit
- Fencing of the processing compound
These improvements will strengthen production, making it quicker, safer, and more hygienic.
An inception survey conducted revealed eighty-five percent (85%) of dagaa processors sell their dagaa to wholesalers and brokers, making them their main market segment. There is currently no activity in export markets, the market is predominantly driven by wholesalers and brokers. This indicates the potential for export market.
The market for processed dagaa
Providing access to finance for value chain actors
The eco-credit financing scheme is essentially a revolving fund that enables members to borrow money for business expansion needs. This approach makes sustainable practices economically viable and provides easy access to finance, thereby improving economic resilience within the community. The funds will be available to all group members.
The Impact
Our Impact
We have trained:
- 74 value chain actors (fishers, dealers, and scale processors) from Mkunguni, Munje, and Kibuyuni on life and business skills.
- 32 Kibuyuni dagaa processors (22 females, 10 males) on leadership, fish handling, and hygiene.
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‘The majority of projects fail because organizations fail to involve the community in assessments and dialogue to gather enough knowledge on what their specific needs are, in addition, they also fail to conduct enough training, especially on life skills and leadership leading to the majority of groups collapsing shortly after the organizations leave, COMRED has done the right thing in doing so to ensure the success of this project’ - Hassan Mnyeto- Kibuyuni Dagaa Processors,
‘The majority of projects fail because organizations fail to involve the community in assessments and dialogue to gather enough knowledge on what their specific needs are, in addition, they also fail to conduct enough training, especially on life skills and leadership leading to the majority of groups collapsing shortly after the organizations leave, COMRED has done the right thing in doing so to ensure the success of this project’ - Hassan Mnyeto- Kibuyuni Dagaa Processors,
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