MoU signed was signed between ICAR-CIFT and SAF

A MoU was signed between ICAR-CIFT and Society for Assistance to Fisherwomen (SAF), Dept. of Fisheries, Govt. of Kerala on 30th September, 2019 for fabrication and installation of 20 numbers of CIFT developed Refrigerated mobile fish vending Kiosks for the benefit of women SHGs under Theeramaithri project. The Kiosks will be provided to fisherwomen SHGs who have been involved in fish selling business, on subsidised rate. To provide hygienic and quality fish to consumers at the right time and in the right place requires an efficient cold chain management, transport and marketing system. Traditionally fisherfolks across India sell fish in an open environment without any hygienic handling and marketing practices. In this context,ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, has developed a refrigeration enabled mobile fish vending kiosk to improve the unhygienic handling and marketing practices of fisher-folks, small scale vendors/sellers and retailers. The kiosk unit is movable as it is mounted on a frame with wheels at the bottom. It is completely made up of food grade stainless steel (304) with toughened glass for display. The kiosk can carry about 20-30 kg of fresh fish under chilled storage conditions. The main components of the kiosk are chilled storage cum display facility(2-3°C), hand operated descaling machine, fish dressing deck with wash basin, water tank, waste collection chamber and working space. The main attraction of this unit is consumer can see the fishes directly through transparent glass cover and select according to their choice of purchase. Also, it has provisions for descaling, cutting, and cleaning operations. Under ideal operating conditions, the unit can extend the shelf life of fish for 4 to 5 days and increases marginal benefit to fish vendors/sellers. The fabrication cost of the kiosk comes around Rs55,000/ + GST which is affordable to small scale and retail fish vendors for investment on the modern kiosk. The technology also helps to change the unhygienic handling and marketing practices of fish by the vendors/sellers/fisherfolks.The traditional fish vending systems are soon going to be replaced with refrigerated mobile fish vending units developed by CIFT.