Although global consumption of aquatic foods has increased by 3 percent annually, high post-harvest losses (PHLs) remain a concern in fisheries and aquaculture value chains. In Africa where malnutrition and food insecurity are proliferating, PHLs are causing enormous economic losses and affecting livelihoods of fish value chain operators. This is because aquatic foods are highly perishable, and their quality begins to deteriorate immediately after being harvested. Inadequate infrastructure, lack of knowledge, and technical capacity of the value chain actors especially women, exacerbate the situation leading to quality, market, and physical losses. Globally, post-harvest losses account for 10% of total fish losses, while in Southern Africa losses are estimated at an average of 25%. If the SADC region has to improve food and nutrition security, actors in the fish value chains have to make better use of fish produced by reducing PHLs and increasing fish available for consumption. SADC through the PROFISHBLUE project is supporting women and youth engaged in processing and trade of fish and fish products in seven SADC countries to reduce PHLs. Out of the total of 9,277 targeted participants, 93% (P < 0.05) are women and 53% are youths. By imparting knowledge and technical capacity in fish processing including value addition, providing cold chain, and marketing infrastructure, fish losses along the value chain can be reduced while increasing fish consumption, improving livelihoods and economic gains for over 380 million people in the region.
Key words: Post-harvest losses, value chains, women, youth