Liberia's Fishery Officers and Local Fabricators Learn How to Build Effective Fish Processing Facilities, FTT

Innovative techniques accompanied by user-centered design and local manufacturing capability are vital for their effective adoption in communities and scaling up across the country. This is the case for the innovative fish processing technique, the FAO-Thiaroye Processing Technique (FTT), developed through collaboration between FAO and the National Training Center for Fisheries and Aquaculture Technicians (CNFTPA) in Senegal. The oven was developed to improve on existing models, and its accessories can be adapted to most ovens.

From August 30 to September 1, 2023, FAO provided training on the construction and maintenance of the FTT to fisheries experts and staff from the government and FAO country office, as well as local fabricators and constructors.

A total of 35 participants were engaged in the three-day training sessions. Topics of the sessions included the characteristics and advantages of the FTT, main components, technical specifications, technical drawings, and tips on constructing, assembling, and maintaining each component of the FTT.

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“The dissemination of innovative technologies such as the FTT is a shared responsibility of all small-scale fisheries value chain actors. All actors have a role to play for fish processors to adapt the technology. Therefore, this workshop provides the opportunity for fisheries experts and fabricators to understand the concept, its operations and how to manufacture and maintain the parts of the FTT,” stressed Abigail Kanyi, FAO’s International Expert on Fisheries Post-harvest Technologies.

She also highlighted various advantages of FTTs, which include delivering safe and quality food to consumers, and supporting small-scale businesses including processors and manufacturers through healthy working environment, reduction of post-harvest loss and employment opportunities. The training also considered how to mainstream gender concerns and food safety issues into technological development. Economic empowerment and designs that focused on female processors’ needs among others were proposed as some of the ways to address gender concerns.

A training participant and a fishery officer of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), based in Buchannan, Grand Bassa County, also found the training very important. He also noted the role that NaFAA has to play in ensuring that field officers provide supervision in terms of the proper use and maintenance of the FTTs, as well as in creating awareness for the extension of FTTs to other fishing communities to help the communities adapt the modern technology. 

Another participant and a constructor in Liberia, after the training, said “this training told us the functions of FTT, with which we can improve how we construct the fish processing facilities. For example, it informed us about the important role of the indirect smoke generator in controlling the smoke and adding the color and flavor to the smoked fish products. Also, we learned our responsibility as constructors to get the communities and women involved, to be part of construction exercise as the end users of the facility.”

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The FTT construction training was a vital step towards the effective introduction and scaling up of sustainable and efficient fish processing techniques in Liberia. By capacitating various value chain actors and facilitating the creation of an enabling environment in collaboration with the government, partners, and stakeholders, FAO is committed to continue supporting the development of a sustainable fish value chain and the improvement of livelihoods for people in Liberia.

About the Project

The Japan-funded project “Strengthening Capacities in the Fisheries and Rice Cultivation Sectors for Food Security and Nutrition Improvement” (2021-2024) aims to ensure that fishmongers and processors have resilient livelihoods and income, as well as food and nutrition security. Outcome 2 seeks to improve the livelihoods of female fish processors in 10 communities by scaling up the intervention to disseminate climate-smart, sustainable, and healthy post-harvest techniques and equipment in the fish value chain. With a focus on the empowerment of female fish processors, the project also facilitates gender mainstreaming in value chain development.

Links
FAO Food Loss and Waste in Fish Value Chains