Refrigerated Fish Vending Kiosk “Chillfish” prompts un-compromised Freshness and Quality in Fish Retailing

With an aim to provide the connoisseurs of tasting the fish products under the hygienic conditions at their doorsteps, the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin has designed and developed energy efficient Refrigerated Fish Vending Kiosk for selling fish in the village, urban and municipality areas. The unit has been developed using the food grade stainless steel (SS 304) and transparent toughened polycarbonate sheets integrated with a refrigeration unit of capacity 300 W. The total cost of the kiosk is Rs. 60,000/- including GST.

The Kiosk has the capacity of being loaded with 100 Kg fish, of which 20 Kg under the chilled storage and remaining in an insulated ice box. The major components of the Kiosk are well insulated fish chilled storage-cum-display unit, hand-operated descaling machine, fish dressing deck with wash basin and provision for collection of solid and liquid waste. The transparent polycarbonate sheet provides the consumers with a chance to see fish directly.

It is also fitted with a hand-operated descaling machine for removing the fish scales and reducing the drudgery / time. The power source of the unit is electricity through AC connection. The Kiosk can also be connected with the solar energy input provision for working as a standalone set-up without external power sources. Under the ideal operating conditions, the unit can extend the fish’s shelf life for 4 to 5 days and enhance fish vendors’ marginal benefit. The estimated annual cost per unit has been calculated to be Rs. 26,26,650/- with an annual return of Rs. 30,87,000/- that yields a net profit of Rs. 4,60,350/-. The Benefit Cost ratio is 1.18. The cost of the technology is affordable for the small scale fish vendors for investment with the payback period of less than two years. The feature of producing less emissions, eco-friendly and proper waste disposal measures of the Refrigerated Fish Vending Kiosk adheres to the National Mission for a Green India and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Being impressed with the technology’s performance, the Society for Assistance to Fisherwomen (SAF), Department of Fisheries, Government of Kerala has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ICAR-CIFT for fabricating and installing 20 Refrigerated Fish Vending Kiosks for the benefit of women fish vendors in different women Self Help Groups under the Theeramaithri Project of the Government of Kerala.

In addition, 11 ICAR-CIFT designed Fish Vending Kiosks are successfully functioning at the various places of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kochi)