SADC Awards Refrigerated Trucks to Six SMEs to Reduce Post-Harvest Losses in Fisheries Sector
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, through the Programme for Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy Trade Corridors in the SADC region (PROFISHBLUE Project), has handed over a refrigerated truck to Twiyule Fish Farmers’ Cooperative from Malawi and awarded grants of refrigerated trucks to five other SMEs across SADC Member States.
The initiative aims to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance fish quality in the region.
The six SMEs selected for the grant include the National Network of Women in Fisheries in Madagascar (RENAFEP-MADA), Twiyule Fish Farmers’ Cooperative from Malawi, Associaçǎo De Processadores de Peixe Fresco de Tebone (APPEFRET) from Mozambique, Bukasiga Fishing Cooperative Society Limited from Tanzania, African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFISHNET), Zambia Chapter, and the Zimbabwe Fish Producers Association (ZFPA). These businesses, composed of 93% women and 53% youth, were competitively chosen for their commitment to sustainable fisheries.
The handover ceremony, held in Lilongwe, Malawi, was officiated by Honourable Dr Owen Chomanika, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change of Malawi, alongside Ms. Angele Makombo N’Tumba, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration. Senior government officials, SME representatives, and SADC Secretariat members, including Mr. Domingos Gove, Director of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, attended the event.
Honourable Dr Chomanika commended the PROFISHBLUE Project for supporting SMEs in the fisheries sector. He emphasized that the refrigerated trucks would not only help manage post-harvest losses but also improve food and nutrition security, create employment, and alleviate poverty. He encouraged the recipients to use the trucks to expand their businesses and contribute to sustainable development in their communities and the broader SADC region.
Ms. Makombo N’Tumba highlighted the significance of the handover, noting that post-harvest losses in the fisheries sector stand at approximately 40%. She expressed optimism that the refrigerated trucks would help mitigate these losses, boost fish consumption, and increase income levels, ultimately strengthening food systems across the region.
The PROFISHBLUE Project, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) with an investment of $10.14 million, has been running since 2022 and concludes in 2025. The project promotes sustainable fisheries management under the blue economy framework, aiming to enhance food security, create jobs, facilitate intra-regional trade, and build resilience against climate change.
To ensure efficient use of the awarded assets, the six SMEs participated in a capacity-building program from March 17-20, 2025. The training covered governance, finance, asset management, and best practices for handling fish and fishery products.
In implementing its initiatives, SADC collaborates with key partners, including the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), WorldFish, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF).
With these interventions, SADC continues to strengthen the fisheries sector, promoting sustainability and economic growth for women and youth-led enterprises in the region.
