More efficient ice production for the Soafiavy cooperative in Itampolo

Posted on 4 September 2023

With WWF support, three local cooperatives have been empowered to manage their fishing activities more effectively.

The Soafiavy cooperative, in Intapolo, Southern Tuléar, which has 82 members, including 48 women and 34 men, plays an essential role in ice production, which then enables local fishmongers to preserve and sell iced fish products to the surrounding villages and communes. This practice reduces post-capture losses and considerably improves product quality.
During 2022, the cooperative managed to produce 1,540 blocks of ice, equivalent to a value of 4,620,000 Ariary. In the first half of 2023, the cooperative produced almost 900 blocks of ice, equivalent to around 50 blocks every 10 days. However, due to the deterioration of the freezers, the freezing period now extends from 8 to 10 days. To improve this production, the cooperative recently used 5,440,000 Ariary of its own funds to purchase new freezers to reinforce their freezing equipment and produce more ice.

In line with this development, the cooperative has also received equipment essential to their ongoing activities, including freezers, buckets and gloves, with the aim of ensuring greater quantity and sustainability of their ice production.