How solar-powered cold storage can reduce Nigeria’s N3.5trn post-harvest loss

Owing to the country’s epileptic power supply, stakeholders in the agricultural value chain are pushing for the adoption of solar-powered cold storage systems to cut down on post-harvest loss.

Nigeria loses about 50 percent of its farm produce to post-harvest loss annually, a loss stakeholders say is costing Africa’s most populous nation over N3.5 trillion in monetary value.

In a recent interview with journalists, Ayomide Olugbade, an agritech solution expert, reiterated that it is now crucial for Nigeria to adopt solar-powered cold storage systems that can cut down post-harvest losses by half, ensuring that food security is within reach.

“Nigeria must increase food production by approximately 75 to 100 percent, and to achieve the needed food security rate in the country, Nigeria must cut off more than 50 percent of its post-harvest losses,” he stated.

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Explaining further, he noted: “We must double farmers’ productivity through agritech and irrigation.”

“We must also expand storage, logistics, and food processing infrastructure, invest in climate-resilient agriculture and research and development.”

He noted that decentralised, solar-driven cold storage can reduce losses, empower farmers, and improve national food resilience with a focus on fruits and vegetables.

Data reveal that Nigeria produces an average of 13.9 million tons of fruits and vegetables every year, but loses half of that to spoilage.

In Nigeria, post-harvest losses are the major contributor to food insecurity, particularly among smallholder farmers who lack access to modern preservation technologies.

He noted that post-harvest losses in Nigeria have significant socio-economic implications that undermine national development.

“Post-harvest losses in Nigeria have significant socio-economic implications that undermine national development,” noted Olugbade, who is also the co-founder and chief technology officer of Rendcore Technology Limited.

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Solar-powered cold storage is an innovative post-harvest preservation technology that addresses the challenges of food spoilage in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

He added that empowering youth through funding, training, and incubation will expand the reach of these technologies, especially in underserved rural areas.

“The adoption of solar cold storage not only improves food security but also strengthens rural economies by enhancing agricultural profitability and reducing waste,” he explained.

He noted that aligning financing models with community ownership, supported by institutional frameworks and youth innovation, is essential to scale solar cold storage and reduce post-harvest losses in Nigeria.