Improving Marketing Efficiency of the Small-Scale Fisheries Sector in Mozambique and Angola
Background
Small-scale fisheries in Angola and Mozambique serve vital needs in local communities by providing food and jobs. FAO research shows that a strong regional and national demand in both countries for frozen fish products could boost the artisanal sector if traditional preservation methods and limited market reach were replaced by improved handling, preservation, processing procedures, an expanded market range and marketing strategies.
This two year project, completed in 2010, improved market efficiency for the small-scale fisheries sector beneficiaries in these two countries mainly by providing technical assistance and by disseminating market information. In two fishing communities in each country – Muntanhane and Costa del Sol in Mozambique, and Buraco and Maradiera in Angola – artisanal fishers, small-scale processors and traders received technical assistance and training in all aspects of production from catch to market.
Information Gathering and Dissemination
Initial preparation began in April 2008, with a training course in marketing in Maputo, Mozambique, followed by a mentoring effort tohelp build capacity for the project. . Arrangements were made with the local radio station to broadcast fish prices every Friday, which was crucial information for fishermen and traders in their price negotiations.
As part of INFOSA’s general capacity-building strategy for the region, developed based on the feedback of local trainers and fishing communities. The guidelines were published in the form of 1000 posters and pamphlets andwere distributed to The Instituto De Desenvolvimento De Pesca De Pequena Escalaute (IDPPE), Escola de Pesca in Mozambique, and IPA in Angola, where theywere locally distributed by each agency. In addition, INFOSA distributed copies to other countries whose principal language is Portuguese.
Fish prices were posted and regularly updated on blackboards at local markets and landing sites. Information on regional fish markets was gathered, exchanged, analyzed and disseminated in simple language on regular weekly radio announcements, as well as through a fortnightly publication of INFOSA Trade News (ITN) bulletin, which alsoprovided information on international fish markets. This latter effort clearly benefited Mozambique’s small-scale fishery sector in particular.
Training
To make the best possible use of the guidelines, data and published materials as well as to actively bolster the information dissemination efforts, 22 people (5 from Angola) were trained in January 2009 in Maputo, Mozambique, to become trainers themselves. In turn, these trainers conducted two training courses on fish marketing, in May and August 2009, for 150 fishers, traders and processors. These marketing seminars explained in detail sources of information and prices,explored trade opportunities, and helped set up connections to buyers in the region and the markets beyond.
Two short courses in May 2009, demonstrated and assisted in building solar drier and smoker units at both sites. Readily available and affordable materials were used to build the fish smokers, which were much appreciated by the communities.
Basic hygiene, fish handling and preservation, HAACP standards, processing and packaging innovations, including new equipment and technology, and improved marketing skills, were all covered at another comprehensive training course held in August, 2009, for staff from 42 stakeholders. Also, demonstrative visits to markets and supermarkets were organized in the four fishing communities of Buraco, Maradiera, Muntanhane and Costa del Sol.
The project’s practical training aspect elicited positive feedback and yielded sound results. An impact survey showed the regular radio broadcasts to be effective as they were generally well-received by fish communities and allowed fishers to, better bargain with middlemen and small traders. Fishing communities in both countries asked for more courses and assistance along the same lines provided by the projects.
Improving Sector’s Organization
Studies were conducted in both countries to observe, analyze and appropriately re-organize activities, communications and services.
In March 2010, an international seminar was held in Maputo to review the current project and to discuss how a similar projectmight be carried out in other countries and regions. Results and lessons learned from the implementation of this project were gathered into reports and submitted to all parties concerned.
Regular visits to Angola and Mozambique to monitor progress also helped coordinate the project as it unfolded.
Lessons Learned
The villages where the project was implemented are poor and lack running water. Sanitation, waste disposal, personal hygiene, adult literacy and basic communications infrastructure are alsochallenges facing the community.. While these conditions are vital for the two national governments to address, they are the real context in which the projects were implemented. Insights as to what worked and what did not in this context include the following:
Involvement of the communities is essential to project success, as villagers want to participate, feel responsible and take ownership of the project. Expectations of communities must be realistic. The project’s slow start was due to an expectation from the communities that everything would be done for them. This mentality changed when the aim of the project was explained, and it was made clear that they would only benefit if they participated in the work.
Liaisons between the main local organizations and the communities for all agencies involved are vital to maintain project engagement and progress. Poor infrastructure and unpredictable weather can also provide challenges as damage to access roads from heavy rains delayed the projects in both countries.
Equipment such as solar driers and solar ice making machines were not available locally and thus had to be imported, whicheffectively more than doubled the price of the machines.
Radio announcements of fish prices in Maputa directly helped the community.
Quality assurance training was effective, but limited in scope. If all fishers in the communities had been involved, the impact would have been broader and deeper. Also more equipment, such as ice machines and generators, would have proved useful to the communities. It will take years, more processing infrastructure and demonstrated benefits to change the mentality of the primary processors, who are still processing their fish purchases in the open air and throwing the waste from the fish on the beach. Substantive change will require constant mentoring and consistent evidence of better examples set by others who have followed the training courses and implemented what they learned about reducing post-harvest losses.
Tendering exercises, disbursement and verification procedures by governments and governmental organizations are long and tedious, and caused delays at the start of the project.
Conclusions and recommendations
Project goals were met where possible. More could have been done with extra time and money. The original objective of linking fishers to regional markets was imprecise, as fishers were already linked to local traders – middlemen – who come to the villages to buy their fish and fish products.
Overall benefits derived from the project include capacity building in the communities. Most fishers and small-scale traders received training for the first time and became aware of the idea of negotiating the sale of their products.. Contact with local authorities and organizations have been established. However, continuous follow-up will be necessary to ensure continuity and further improvements for the communities.
