On Saturday, August 24th, staff from the Department of Fisheries Studies (DFS)โMr. Collin Gereniu, Ms. Madeline Solo, Mr. Luke Jino, and Dr. Kofi Aprekuโtraveled to Verahue, West Guadalcanal, as part of a follow-up visit. The purpose of the visit was to observe how five communities (Verahue Anglican, Verahue Catholic, Hulavu, Kotsatsai, and Kobiloko) are applying the knowledge they received through a series of bottled tuna training sessions provided by the department.It was amazing to see that the communities have not only mastered the Tuna Bottling production process, but are eager to share the knowledge with other communities in West Guadalcanal. The demonstration session was hands-on and practical by the community members themselves, with little instruction from the SINU/DFS team. The members demonstrated every step of the process meticulously; show-casing their newly acquired skills in every step of the process, from preparation of the raw tuna to the final product, while ensuring product safety. The community members showed that not only have they become adept at the technical side of things, but also understand the critical importance of food safety and hygiene to prevent contamination. A key part of the process involved sterilizing the Bottled Tuna using pressure cookers (f-value >4), ensuring that the final products are both safe to eat and long-lasting. This initiative was more than just about foodโit was about giving local communities the tools they need to improve food security and build sustainable livelihoods. This, indeed is a success story. Equipment and training to the communities were supported by Amblรฉve Bedrock Foundation, and American conservation foundation.
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