Lake Victoria Fish Loss Prevention Program

Program Brief

It is estimated that small-scale fish processors in Tanzania lose up to 40% of the fish harvest due to poor postharvest fish processing infrastructure, particularly a lack of cold storage and drying facilities to limit fish spoilage. Uncontrolled postharvest fish loss leads to income loss, keeping small-scale fishers in the poverty cycle. At MAVUNOLAB, we help fish processors in Lake Victoria, western Tanzania, avoid fish loss and spoilage by deploying low-cost Solar Drying Facilities developed by MAVUNOLAB.

Strategic Objective

To prevent fish loss and spoilage in Tanzania by deploying affordable solar-powered drying and cold storage facilities to fish communities in Tanzania.

Key Strategic Actions

  1. Design, develop, and deploy low-cost solar-drying facilities suitable for small-scale fish processors and communities in Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Zanzibar.
  2. Develop and deploy affordable solar-powered cold storage facilities to prevent fish spoilage in Tanzania resulting from poor storage conditions.
  3. Train fish processors in Tanzania on proper postharvest fish handling, processing, storage, and drying.
  4. Partner with fishery-focused research, such as the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI), in developing solutions and services to reduce fish loss and spoilage in Tanzania.