Small-scale fisheries in the context of traditional post-harvest practice and the quest for food and nutritional security in Nigeria
This article (PDF) in the Agriculture & Food Security Journal examines the post-harvest practices of small-scale fisheries and the contribution of these fisheries to food and nutrition security (FNS) in Nigeria. Small-scale fisheries are the dominant source of local fish production in Nigeria but receive limited policy attention. In the food security context the accessibility and stability of fish supply has been predominant, with less attention for utilization and availability. A central theme to guarantee small-scale fisheries’ contribution to FNS in Nigeria is addressing the considerable post-harvest losses (PHL). A narrative review was conducted on PHL practiced of small-scale fisheries and factors that discourage the adoption of locally available interventions. The study reveals that sun-drying and smoking are the major interventions practiced to mitigate PHL. Unfortunately, these methods are constrained by gross under-capacity and improper handling during peak fishing periods and issues related to product safety. There are a handful of potential intervention mechanisms to address issues of PHL which take into account local contexts. However, general inertia and poor policy implementation currently hamper progress. The article provides recommendations to identify gaps in areas of technological adoption, safety, and product quality issues, which are detrimental to traditional fish processing systems.