The catching, processing and trading of fish along the coast of Ghana provides employment for around half-a-million people. In total, an estimated 2.3 million people are wholly or partially dependent on this trade. In addition, the entire population relies heavily on processed fish as a major source of animal protein.

Very little is known about the quality and quantity of fish lost during the processing chain, for example through fishing, landing, processing, transporting, storage or marketing.

The Post-Harvest Fisheries Research Programme (PHFRP) worked in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and a range of local organisations to assess the level of losses and to apply suitable control methods, with techniques like using insulated ice boxes on board boats to preserve fish and using mesh screens to dry fish and prevent insect infestation.

There is clear evidence that, where applied, the control methods resulted in a reduction in the level of losses and an improvement in quality. This increased the value of the fish at the market place and in turn led to an increase in the incomes of the fishermen and traders. The reported average level of increase is around 18 per cent.

Sweet success in Uganda
Peanut power in Zimbabwe
Cow know-how
The donkey's tale

Back to Ground breaking research

For more details about this and other Developments content see Find out more.