Analysis of Practices Relating to the Transport, Storage, and Marketing of Fresh Fish in Niamey: Health and Socioeconomic Issues (Niger River and Lake Komadougou Yobé/Lake Chad)

This study assesses the transport, storage, and marketing practices for fresh fish in Niamey, the capital of Niger, highlighting the duality of supply between local fishing on the Niger River and fish imported from Lake Komadougou Yobé. The rudimentary conditions of these practices raise major health and socio-economic concerns for the sector.

Field surveys and interviews with fishermen and traders were conducted to assess the quality of the fish and the conditions of its value chain.

Current practices in the sector are mostly inadequate, causing rapid deterioration of fish quality. For local fish, this decline results from poor hygiene and exposure to high temperatures. The situation is even more serious for fish from Lake Komadougou Yobé, which are transported over long distances without a cold chain. From a health perspective, there is a high risk of microbial growth, affecting the entire market. Socio-economically, these inefficiencies lead to significant post-harvest losses, directly impacting the income of the population.

The fresh fish sector in Niamey requires a differentiated and holistic approach. Investments in cold storage infrastructure, capacity building, and awareness-raising on good practices are essential to ensure food safety, reduce economic losses, and sustainably improve the livelihoods of stakeholders.