By Nageshwar Patnaik in Bhubaneswar, January 26, 2015

If you are a connoisseur of dry fish then this Republic Day will bring good news for you.

Some 99 ultra modern solar dryers have been installed for the first time in India, for making most hygienic dry fish by the women SHGs across Ganjam and Puri districts as an alternate livelihood initiative under the Project backed by the World Bank Aided Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project.

Various varieties of dry fish or popularly known Sukhua in a glossy and standardized food grade non-stinking package in multiple shops would be a reality soon.

As per the plan, popular dry fish varieties which are in high demand due to culinary habits of local consumers would be dried hygienically in these ultra modern solar dryers, processed and packaged by the women fisher groups under the brand name “SEAFEAST” and would find place on the shelves of the stores at Bhubaneswar, to begin with, according to Ajit Pattnaik, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Executive, Chilika Development Authority.

This packaging and marketing initiative is part of livelihood activities adopted by Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project in Odisha to provide a crucial linkage to the marketing system for the marginal fishers in a dignified way by transforming from the filthy baskets of local footpath sellers to positioning in the shelf of organized retailers.

Currently, pilot testing of these hygienically dried and processed dry fishes are underway and this would soon be available in the local market, on the Republic Day on Monday.

The brand “SEFEAST ”- Hygenic bhi Healthy bhi- would be launched at Adivasi Mela on 26^th January 2015 at a special ICZMP stall.

The services of a special professional group has been commissioned by the State Project Management Unit, according to Patnaik, who is also the Project Director, Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project, Odisha [ICZMP]. Attempt is being made to impart training to the fisher groups on uniform packaging process and facilitate the initiative to maximize returns for the fishers.

Initially, the packaged dry fish products would be available locally and the SPMU has plans to collaborate with the different agencies in future to expand the dry fish market.

This initiative will ensure that consumers get high quality hygienic dry fish products in most healthy form at an affordable price and the women fisher self help groups [SHGs] also will get a better price. “This is a bold initiative under the ICZM Project to expand the value and supply chain system of dry fish market within and outside the state. We expect through this effort the women SHGs would get at least 40 -50 better price and at the same time the consumer would get a new experience of buying new product in the most hygienic form”, Patnaik told Bizodisha.

ICZMP is also planning to provide capacity building and handholding to all 99 SHGs who have taken up dry fish production through hybrid solar dryers and eventually establishing a SHG federation. The federation will comprise of all potential SHGs and producers under the ICZMP operational area.  ICZMP has also initiated on product awareness and brand building through different activities for hygienic dry fish.

This is the first time that hybrid solar driers are introduced in the state for the fishers who are adversely affected due to ban on fishing owing to the implementation of Odisha Marine Fisheries Regulation (OMFRA) Act and other biodiversity conservation measures. Initially, ICZMP has selected 99 SHGs in Ganjam and Puri districts in its pilot project area to provide hybrid solar driers as part of the alternative livelihood programme under Fishery component. Out of the selected self-help groups 94 are women SHGs who would be directly benefitted from the programme.