MARGAO: Responding to recent protests by fish vendors and fishermen in Colva, the State government has amended the fish drying platform scheme. Under the revised scheme, traditional fish dryers will now be charged a nominal fee of Rs 1,000 per platform per year.
Previously, traditional fishermen were struggling with the substantial hike in lease fees, at an annual cost of Rs 3,000 for a 100 sqm platform at government facilities, compared to the earlier rate of Rs 100 per year.
In a pioneering move for Goa, the Agriculture Department has also established a solar fish dryer at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Margao. This initiative aims to facilitate hygienic fish drying for the traditional fisherfolk, and it is also open for use by the general public, at a small fee, throughout the year.
The solar fish dryer can efficiently dry up to 100 kg of fish in eight to ten hours, ensuring even drying and enhanced hygiene. The resulting fish boasts a longer shelf life compared to those dried in open, beachside locations. Agriculture Director Nevil Alphonso encouraged fisherfolk to take advantage of this facility, highlighting its nominal usage fee.
Traditionally, fisherwomen have dried fish in open yards, on the roadsides and on beaches, where maintaining proper hygiene is challenging, and the risk of contamination from sand, dust, birds, animals, and trespassers are high.
The solar dryer in Margao will serve as a demonstration platform, offering hands-on training to fisherwomen and providing them with the facility to dry their fish. This technology, developed by ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology in Cochin, boasts varying drying times of 4-10 hours, depending on moisture content and fish surface area. For mackerel fish, the drying process takes approximately 8-10 hours.
