Fish Losses for Whom? A Gendered Assessment of Post-Harvest Losses in the Barotse Floodplain Fishery, Zambia

Alexander Michael Kaminski, Steven Michael Cole, Robin Elizabeth Al Haddad, Alexander Shula Kefi, Alex Dennis Chilala, Gethings Chisule, Kelvin Ntaswila Mukuka, Catherine Longley, Shwu Jiau Teoh and Ansen Ronald Ward
Additional contact information
Alexander Michael Kaminski: WorldFish, Plot 18944 Lunbansenshi, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Steven Michael Cole: WorldFish, Plot 18944 Lunbansenshi, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Robin Elizabeth Al Haddad: School of Geography, Development & Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Alexander Shula Kefi: Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of the Republic of Zambia, P.O. Box 350100, Chilanga 10101, Zambia
Alex Dennis Chilala: Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of the Republic of Zambia, P.O. Box 350100, Chilanga 10101, Zambia
Gethings Chisule: Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of the Republic of Zambia, P.O. Box 350100, Chilanga 10101, Zambia
Kelvin Ntaswila Mukuka: Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of the Republic of Zambia, P.O. Box 350100, Chilanga 10101, Zambia
Catherine Longley: Independent Researcher, Kent CT1, UK
Shwu Jiau Teoh: WorldFish, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas 11960, Malaysia
Ansen Ronald Ward: Independent Researcher, Kent CT1, UK

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 23, 1-20

Abstract: Few studies examine post-harvest fish losses using a gender lens or collect sex-disaggregated data. This mixed-methods study assessed fish losses experienced by female and male value chain actors in a fishery in western Zambia to determine who experiences losses, why, and to what extent. Results indicate that participation in the fishery value chain is gendered and most losses occur during post-harvest activities. Discussions with fishers, processors, and traders suggest the value chain is more fluid than often depicted, with people making calculated decisions to sell fresh or dried fish depending on certain conditions, and mostly driven by the need to avoid losses and attain higher prices. The study shows that gender norms shape the rewards and risks offered by the value chain. This could be the reason why a greater proportion of women than men experienced physical losses in our study sample. Female processors lost three times the mass of their fish consignments compared to male processors. Technical constraints (lack of processing technologies) and social constraints (norms and beliefs) create gender gaps in post-harvest losses. Addressing unequal gender relations in value chains, whilst also promoting the use of loss-reducing technologies, could increase fish supply and food security in small-scale fisheries.

Keywords: gender; post-harvest losses; small-scale fisheries; value chains; Barotse Floodplain; Zambia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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