Burundi

In Burundi, an entire trade changed by lifting the fish one metre above the sand.

Along Lake Tanganyika, women had for generations dried small ndagala fish directly on the shore. It could take three days. Fish were trampled, washed away by rain or spoiled – and sand and small stones sometimes ended up with the food.

In 2004, just 48 simple mesh racks were tested above the ground. Drying time dropped to around eight hours. Waste more than halved, and the fish could be sold for more than twice the price.

The idea spread so quickly that fish dried directly on the sand quickly became a rare sight.