Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hawa Koomson, says the government is poised to address the huge losses that have bedeviled the post production processes in the fisheries sector.

The Minister, who doubles as Member of Parliament for the Awutu Senya East constituency, said traditional processing methods are not in compliance with international and European Union approved standards for exportation and consumption.

These traditional methods include salting, smoking, frying and drying. She said that by using the hazard analysis critical control point, these methods fall short of standards.

“Fisheries value addition in Ghana is slightly small scale and involves the application of traditional processing method such as salting, smoking, drying and frying which often do not meet international and EU approved standards using the hazard analysis critical control point, these methods fall short of standards,” she said.

The theme for the 38th National Farmers’ Day is “Accelerating agricultural development through value addition.”

According to the Minister, in order to achieve the aim of the theme, the sector needs to be facilitated with improved processing technologies which meet the approved standards.

She added that it would also require an improvement in the traditional processing techniques to complement the quality of the technologies.

She indicated that four fish processing facilities in the country have been provided with IT equipment, furniture and protective equipment.

Several projects are ongoing and a few will be completed in January 2023, she said.