Inside our pilot programme

Our pilot programme brings Akoliam closer to the people who actually dry fish for a living — not in a lab, but at working landing sites along Tanzania's coast.

We have spent time with processors at Kunduchi in Dar es Salaam and Kasera in Tanga, listening before we prescribe. What we heard matches what many families already know: traditional open-air drying is shaped by the weather, the season, and how much time a trader has before the next boat arrives.

What the community is teaching us

Processors described drying fish on nets and canvas, often close to the ground — exposed to dust, rain, and scavengers. In the rainy season, product is harder to protect and more likely to spoil. Some told us that when drying is slow, a morning catch may still be unfinished when afternoon landings come in. That pressure flows through the whole value chain: lost product, lower prices, and unstable daily income.

Women and young people carry much of this work. They spoke honestly about long hours, smoke from firewood used in traditional processing, and the physical strain of methods that have not changed in generations. Senior fishers and experienced traders also shared their perspective — not as obstacles, but as people who understand why better drying matters for the community's reputation and survival.

What we are learning in the field

The strongest lesson so far is that trust comes before technology. Processors do not want a machine that looks impressive on paper; they want something that fits a busy landing site, respects how they already work, and helps them protect more of their catch.

Through interviews and early field testing, we confirmed real demand for a better way to dry anchovies — especially where post-harvest loss and weather dependency are everyday risks, not abstract statistics. We are learning alongside users: when loads arrive, how drying fits around market timing, and what “good quality” means to the people buying and selling dried fish.

We are also seeing why local environmental conditions matter. When fish spoils before it can be sold, waste does not disappear — it affects the landing sites and water bodies communities depend on. That connection between livelihoods and the environment is part of why this work matters beyond any single batch.

The impact we are working toward

Our aim is practical: help processors keep more of what they catch, improve hygiene and product consistency, and reduce the waste and uncertainty that hit hardest during rainy seasons. For youth and women in the sector, that can mean more stable earnings, safer working conditions, and skills that strengthen their place in the trade.

We are still early. Pilots are teaching us every week, and we will share more stories from the coast as they grow — always centred on people, places, and the change communities want to see.

If you are a processor, cooperative, or partner interested in our pilot work, reach out through our Resources page.