To reduce post-harvest losses and improve fish quality in climate-vulnerable regions,the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),Bangladesh has distributed insulated fish boxes to 200 small-scale fish traders, farmers, and fishermen.
The support comes under FAO’s Community-Based Climate Resilient Fisheries and Aquaculture Development project, which is working in two of the country’s most vulnerable zones — the coastal southwest and the haor-surrounded northeast.
All recipients are members of community-based organisations (CBOs) formed under the project. These CBOs have been instrumental in building collective capacity for sustainable aquaculture and fisheries management in regions facing increasing risks from salinity, floods, cyclones, and erratic weather events.
The insulated fish boxes distributed require no electricity and are designed to keep fish fresh by maintaining a consistently low temperature using crushed ice. Each box can hold approximately 80 to 90 kilograms of fish alongside 25 to 30 kilograms of ice. The inner insulation minimises melting rates, extending the freshness of fish during transport or storage, especially in remote areas without access to cold storage.
The boxes are portable, easy to clean, and durable, making them ideal for small-scale traders and farmers. With Bangladesh experiencing post-harvest losses of up to 30 per cent due to spoilage, this simple yet effective technology offers a significant reduction in waste and ensures better quality fish reach markets and consumers.
The initiative not only supports livelihoods but also contributes to food safety, income stability, and climate resilience by reducing dependency on electricity and enhancing value chain efficiency in the fisheries sector.