By Fatou B. Cham
The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matter (MoFWR-NAMs) recently handed over fish preservation coolers, gloves, knives, aprons and tarpaulins to 250 fish vendors, mostly women, across the country.
This initiative is part of the United Nations Food and Agriculture (FAO) Technical Cooperation Program (TCP), dubbed, ‘Support the sustainable products and marketing of fish and vegetables products for Urban/Peri-urban women’ targeting mostly women fish traders who use coolers, refrigerators or insolated boxes to reduce fish spoilage.
Abdoulie B. Jallow, Fisheries Officer, who couples as the TCP focal point, affirmed that the project is designed to support women in the urban and pre-urban areas in handling fish and fisheries products.
He explained that the TCP has three components, which include the training of women on fish handling, provision of fish handling equipment and the construction of the FAO Thiaroye Technology (FTT) in Banjul.
The objectives of the project, he elucidated are to increase and improve provision of goods and services from fisheries in a sustainable manner, as well as to strengthen fisheries value chains for income generation and employment creation.
“The TCP aims at strengthening the capacity of fish processors and traders; especially women, through the production of high-quality fish products using the newly introduced FTT and cold chain equipment to improve food security and income opportunities for the women fish smokers,” he asserted.
Babou Cham, President, Banjul Beach Landing Site Association, expressed gratitude to the donors, saying such gestures should be encouraged in order to help local fish vendors; especially women in the fishing the sector.
He further pleaded with the stakeholders to assist the landing site with sanitary facility because the existing ones are not in good shape.
Bintou Janneh, fish vendor at Banjul fish market, stated the importance of the donated items. She said the tarpaulins would prevent fish from touching the ground after harvest.
Modou Cham, manager, Bakoteh Fish Market, described the intervention as timely and important, stating that the materials donated would really enhance the work of the women in the fishing industry.
He confirmed that among the things affecting the fish market is the unavailability of ice and the unavailability of storage facilities in the centre. He therefore appealed to the stakeholders to help address the situation.
Fatou Cham, a beneficiary at Wassu, CRR, also acknowledged the significance of the received items.
She further urged the recipients to engage in the proper utilization of the donated materials in order for it to be effective.