Fish traders in southern Malawi are being encouraged to improve their yields and increase incomes by using solar tents to dry their produce.

 

Traders in southern Malawi could soon have bigger fish to fry. A low-tech solar tent made from polythene stretched over a wooden frame is being used to dry fish more efficiently. Fish traders say it helps prolong the shelf life of the catch and fetches a higher price at market.

 

Agricultural innovation fund Cultivate Africa's Future is encouraging traders to improve processing methods. Fishing employs over 50,000 and is a crucial source of nutrition in Malawi, but 40 percent of fish is lost during processing.

 

Fish here is mostly processed through solar drying, frying or smoking. The Australian-Canadian fund is also encouraging the use of energy saving kilns for smoking.

 

The new methods are expected to help reduce the losses and boost incomes for fish sellers. It's hoped the project can be extended to other fishing communities across Africa. (Reuters)