By Modou Kanteh
The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) recently concluded a three-day training of forty-five fisheries post-harvest operators in The Gambia. The training focused on refining the business skills of participants to maximise profits.
The training is part of the UNIDO GEF 6 CCA Gambia Fisheries Project being implemented by the Department of Fisheries and other partners.
Speaking at the event, the project coordinator, Banbanding Kanyi, pointed out that climate change poses a significant threat to coastal ecosystems and livelihoods, particularly in the fisheries sector. He said rising sea temperatures, shifting ocean currents, unpredictable weather patterns, heat waves, and cold spells, among other things, are affecting fish stocks and the communities that depend on them. “These impacts jeopardise national food security, especially for the most vulnerable populations,” Mr. Kanyi said. According to him, the fisheries sector, and in particular post-catch handling, storage, and processing activities carried out by artisanal fishing communities, remains largely unadapted to the effects of climate change.
According to officials, the project will be working in coastal areas and focusing on fisheries value chains. Officials believe that cross-sector coordination and guidelines on mainstreaming climate resilience building models and uptake in enterprise business plans require well-targeted policy and regulatory action plans.
Climate change also exacerbates stresses on coastal fisheries production and post-harvest management systems and is compounded by the weaknesses of business models in addressing climate resilience and gender mainstreaming actions amidst population influxes and the dependence of coastal communities. It is a common belief that small-scale fisher folks and the processing and marketing enterprises’ awareness of the impacts of climate change is poorly understood.
The UNIDO GEF 6 project coordinator observes that fish processing and exporting enterprises and locally registered commercial fishing companies are challenged by external factors such as inadequately sited business and technology propositions and viability. He stated that small-scale coastal fishing, marketing, and retail value chain actors are challenged by weather as part of their day-to-day activities. According to Kanyi, to be considered a competitive player in today’s economy, one must possess the right set of business skills to become more efficient and effective in meeting goals and opening up new opportunities. “Business skills refer to several capabilities that can help one to excel in the workplace,” Kanyi said.
Business skills are crucial for fish processors in the fisheries sector for several key reasons. Whether operating at a small-scale, artisanal level or in a large commercial operation, strong business acumen enhances efficiency, profitability, sustainability, and competitiveness. A fish processor with solid business skills is more likely to run a successful, compliant, and sustainable operation. In the competitive fisheries sector, such skills are not optional—they’re a core requirement for growth and resilience.
Thus, the GCCI has manifested its ultimate desire to ensure that businesses in the country are mainstream to accommodate climate change resilience.
