Matilda Quist Fisheries Commission, Ghana

1. Greater family benefits
through support in post
harvest loss reduction
By
Matilda Quist
Fisheries Commission, Ghana

2. Outline
• Importance of the Ghanaian fishery Sector
• The family structure and its involvement in post-harvest operations
• Results of these family-based activities
• Challenges in tapping into existing opportunities
• Sustaining these small scale business
• Conclusion

3. IMPORTANCE OF THE FISHERIES
• The Fisheries in Ghana contributes 1.4% of the GDP and 6.4% to Agric. GDP (GSS,
2014).
• Fish is cheap source of animal protein. It provides 60% of the national animal protein
need of Ghanaians. Per capital consumption is estimated to be about 20kg per annum
(2012).
• Artisanal fisheries contributes 64% of the total catch (2013)
• 13,000 artisanal marine canoes (140,000 fishers) and about 27,000 canoes (71,000
fishers) for the Inland
• Provides employment for 10% of the population through fishing enterprises, processing
and ancillary businesses such as boat building, input trade etc.
• Provides foreign exchange earnings in terms of exports US$209,246,963 in 2012

4. THE FAMILY STRUCTURE AND INVOLVEMENT IN
POST-HARVEST OPERATIONS
• General distribution of tasks in small scale fisheries
• Men usually involved in fishing
• Some women involved indirectly through financing these fishing operations
(Mostly fuel and food, outboard motor, canoes)
• Some women are directly involved in fishing (collection of shell fish, had
picking of fish, use of traps, fishing)
• Women generally handle the fish after it is landed
• Activities after landing include: fresh fish sale (through fish preservation), fish
processing, packaging (mostly men), storage, distribution (including men)

5. Family-Based Operations
Fresh Fish
(Husband)
Smoking Drying Salting others
Fresh Fish
(Wife)
Smallscaleunitismadeupofanyofthe
following:Dad,Son,mum,daughter,family
relations,helpersetc.
Markets, consumption

7. Transfer of knowledge
Mum Processor (1st
Generation)
Daughter/Close
female relation
Processor (2nd Gen.)
Helpers Apprentices
Processor
Daughter/Close
female relation
(Processor (3rd Gen)
Helpers Apprentices
Processor
Daughter/Close
female relation
(Processor (Nth Gen)
Dad Fisher (1st
Generation)
Dad Fisher
(2nd Generation)
Employees Apprentices
Dad Fisher
(3nd Generation)
Employees Apprentices
Dad Fisher
(Nth Generation)

8. Results of these family based activities
• They make important contributions to value addition and provision of
very important services
• Contribute to fish food and nutrition security of the population (Per
capita consumption in Ghana (24.3kg) surpasses the world average of
19kg)
• Food source for these families [fish and bartered agriculture products]
• Fish income is a significant contributor to family livelihoods (e.g child
care and household needs)

9. Challenges to tapping into existing opportunities
• With growing demand for healthy and nutritious food (fish and
fishery products)
• Small scale fisheries and aquaculture can contribute further to fill the supply
gap (projection in 2030 is 7 million for Africa)
• And maximize benefits from the operations
• But requires that the efficiency of the post-harvest systems be
strengthened
• High postharvest losses constitute the stumbling block
• Capture small-scale fisheries most affected
• These losses weaken the competitiveness and are serious threat to livelihoods
• They impact the 4 dimensions (availability, access, stability of supply, utilization)
of food security, as well as the sustainability of natural resources

10. Challenges to tapping into existing opportunities
• Design of most fishing crafts prevents on board preservation of fish with ice, among
others.
• Handling time
• Adequacy of landing sites
• Availability of potable water
• Financial limitations
• Sole burden of household chores and child care by women prevents them from assessing
quality raw material and also distracts them during processing activities
• Inadequate fish processing, storage and retailing facilities

11. Sustaining these small scale business
• Reduction of post-harvest losses should be of high priority
• All impediments to better commercialization to be lifted
• Volta Basin study has been commissioned by NEPAD-FAO Fish programme to
identify hotspots and raise the evidence information to assist Ghana, private
investors and donor partners in making rationale use of development resources
• Achieved through an integrated approach to assessing losses on the Tilapia
value chain
• Capacity development
• Improving status of infrastructure
• Conducive facilities and services for women’s empowerment [ex; the Child care
facilities would help reduce some of the priority losses identified]
• Improved technologies for better quality and value added products generation
• Setting an enabling environment/a supportive policy

12. Improved Technology

13. Conclusions
• Reduction of post Harvest loss is crucial because of dwindling catches.
• Government should be proactive to address these challenges.
• A need to mainstream systematic integrated surveys along the value
chain
• Fisheries officials must bring this to the attention of government and
policy makers

14. THANK YOU