To improve the unhygienic handling and marketing practices of fisher folk, small scale vendors and retailers, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Cochin has developed a refrigeration enabled mobile fish vending kiosk. The fabrication cost of the kiosk comes around Rs. 80000/-including GST which is affordable to small scale and retail fish vendors for investment on the modern kiosk. The kiosk was launched by ICAR-CIFT at Sha Cold Storage and Fish Centre at Pavankulangara Jn, Puthiyakavu, Tripunithra.
These kiosks are having the chilled storage cum display facility, hand operated descaling machine, fish dressing deck with wash basin, water tank, waste collection chamber and working space. In this unit, consumer can see the fishes directly through transparent glass cover and select according to their choice of purchase.
Smt. Chandrikadevi, Municipal Chairperson, Tripunithra, Ernakulam extolled the efforts of CIFT scientists to evolve such type of useful technologies meant for the fish vendors that will help not only hygienic marketing of fish, but also enhance the shelf life period without hampering the quality of fishes. The kiosk was inaugurated by Smt. Chandrikadevi.
Dr. Ravishankar C.N, Director, ICAR-CIFT said vending kiosk can reduce the drudgery of the fish vendors in addition to attract the consumers towards safe and hygienic fishes.
Additionally, the kiosk has provision for descaling, cutting, cleaning, and packing 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.
