About 30 fish traders in Eastern Equatoria State’s Torit Town are undergoing a two-day training on product handling.
The training is organized by the Women’s Agency for Resilience and Transformation (WART) in partnership with State Ministry of Animal Resources, under the Resilient Agriculture Livelihood Project, funded by the World Bank and implemented by FAO.
Speaking during the opening of the training on Tuesday, the State Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries Director General, Dr Isaac Paul Aleardo, said the it aimed to equip participants with knowledge in packaging for the local and international markets.
“This training is very important because fish is a highly perishable material if not well handled,” said Aleardo.
WART Project Assistance Alfred Bida said the training aimed to equip the fishers with skills on handling techniques, preservation and processing.
“There is an opportunity that farmers can benefit from this kind of training. We have many fish that have been rejected in the international markets because we do not handle them properly. We don’t know the techniques of harvesting,” said Bida.
The Head of Torit FAO Filed Office, Victor Onen Chan, said the participants would undergo practical training on fish handling on Wednesday.
“I am so grateful that today you are only handling theories. Tomorrow, you will have the practicals. Tomorrow you will be learning how to handle fish, how to do the preservations, and how to do the hygiene management,” said Chan.