An initiative aimed at boosting the tuna value chain is now underway at the Revenue Generating Activity (RGA) Facility at the Eco-farm in Temaiku. The project is managed by the Sustainable Fish Value Chains for Small Island Developing States (SVC4SIDS) Project under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in close collaboration with the Coastal Fisheries Division. The initiative started in mid-June this year focusing on identifying innovative post-harvest processing methods for tuna jerky, tuna samosas, tuna sausages. The initiative is to provide capacity building opportunities for women fish sellers and youth on post-harvest of tuna. Trials on tuna canning have also been done in preparation for the Tuna canneries underway on Makin and Nikunau, also under this project.

On 18 August, the project commenced a 3-day hands-on training with women fish sellers from Nawerewere. The training included an introduction to sanitary and hygienic practices, hands-on processing of tuna into value-added products as well as a marketing session of the finished products. One of the women trainees commented that selling value-added products will provide her with more profit compared to selling whole tuna. The project will continue to provide this training to interested fish-sellers and youth from selected sites on South Tarawa and Betio. For interests in this training program, please contact 73016554/73026077.