Sun beats down the red earth of Mokwa, Niger State in north-central Nigeria. Jeremiah Orpaa walks through his farm, his rubber shoes crunching on the dry soil. The 26-year-old farmer pauses to inspect a row of freshly harvested crops, his brows furrowed in thought. Like much of his hard-earned harvest, this maize has a clock ticking against it. Without proper storage, its fate hangs on how quickly he can dry and store it before spoilage takes its toll.
Jeremiah’s struggle with post-harvest losses is one of many across Nigeria, where post-harvest losses continue to undermine the hard work of farmers and threaten food security for millions. On his small farm in Mokwa, he spends long, exhausting hours manually drying his crops, a tedious job that drains time and resources.
“It’s tedious and expensive,” he says, pointing to the open yard where freshly harvested grains are spread under the sun.
The high cost gnaws at his profits while he rents a storage facility for what he manages to salvage. Jeremiah estimates that up to 15% of his harvest is lost each season—not because of pests or poor yields but due to a lack of affordable, efficient storage options.
Food Security Crisis in Nigeria
Agriculture is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, employing over 35% of the population and providing a source of income for many rural families. This sector is vital for national revenue and household survival, from crops like maize and cassava to livestock and fisheries. Yet, its potential remains undercut by one glaring issue: post-harvest losses.
In Nigeria, up to 50% of perishable produce is wasted after harvest. This staggering loss isn’t due to poor farming practices but rather a lack of proper infrastructure, including storage and processing facilities. These losses reduce food availability, worsen rural poverty and waste labor, and deepen the gap in food security. For farmers like Jeremiah, months of hard work often result in little reward.
A picture of Jeremiah’s Farm at Mokwa, Niger State
On a global scale, this problem is tied to larger food insecurity. Hunger has been on the rise worldwide, driven by climate change, trade restrictions, and unequal access to resources. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) emphasize addressing these issues. SDG 2 aims to end hunger, ensure food security, and promote sustainable agriculture. At the same time, SDG 7 focuses on providing affordable and clean energy for all, which also includes renewable energy—critical for solutions like solar-powered storage, which could revolutionize how crops are preserved. For farmers like Jeremiah, renewable energy could be a game-changer, offering an affordable and efficient way to tackle the losses they face season after season.
Renewable Energy Solution
In rural Nigeria, where electricity is often unreliable, the arrival of solar-powered cold storage is a good solution. These innovative systems, like the ones designed by Ecotutu, function as giant cooling boxes powered by the sun. Solar panels absorb sunlight, generating energy that powers the cooling units and charges batteries to keep the system running through the night or during cloudy weather. This technology offers a sustainable and cost-effective way to preserve perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, and dairy.
“It is designed for communities where grid electricity is either not available or too expensive to maintain,” explains Babajide Oluwase, Ecotutu’s founder. “With this system, we ensure that farmers can store their produce without fear of losing them to spoilage.”
Ecotutu’s cold storage solutions are tailored to meet the needs of smallholder farmers. For instance, they use a pay-as-you-go model, where farmers pay just ₦250 to store a crate of produce. This model ensures that even farmers with limited budgets, like Jeremiah, can access cold storage facilities without the financial strain of ownership.
“I often lose a significant portion of my crops during and after harvest due to the reliance on manual labor and the lack of proper harvest equipment,” Orpaa shares. “While I make efforts to ensure proper storage, it comes at a high cost. The estimated amount of loss can go as high as fifteen percent, depending on the severity and situation.”
“For example, our solar-powered cold rooms have helped reduce spoilage rates by up to 40%, particularly for perishable crops like tomatoes, peppers, and proteins,” says Babajide Oluwase. “This reduction in waste translates to significant financial savings and increased income for farmers, who can now sell more of their produce at optimal market prices.”
“In regions where our cold storage hubs are operational, farmers have reported a 20-30% increase in profitability, thanks to extended shelf life and the ability to access broader markets. Additionally, our shared-use model has enabled smallholder farmers to pool resources, making advanced cold chain technology affordable and accessible.”
Scalability and Challenges
Despite its promise, solar-powered cold storage faces hurdles that limit its reach in Nigeria.
According to Babajide Oluwase, one significant challenge is the limited awareness and education about the benefits of cold chain technology.
“Many farmers are accustomed to traditional methods and may initially hesitate to adopt modern solutions like solar-powered cold rooms,” he explains. “Another challenge is financial accessibility. This is why we introduced the pay-as-you-go model that allows them to store their goods at a low price, without the need for high upfront costs.”
Efforts in Nigeria to integrate renewable energy with agriculture offer valuable insights for regions facing similar challenges, such as Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, post-harvest losses are estimated to be as high as 37%, showing the critical need for effective storage solutions. Similarly, Southeast Asia grapples with balancing land resources for both clean energy and food production to meet the demands of a growing population.