To eradicate post-harvest losses, which accounts for over 40 per cent of the country's harvests, Ecotutu - a cleantech company, has launched a new solar cooling technology-SelfChill Cold Rooms - to preserve perishable fresh agric produce from rot.
Energy-Solutions (RES) Programme, which aims to disseminate knowledge on solar-powered cooling technology in Nigeria and promote the SelfChill brand.
The RES Project supports the SelfChill brand, which unites the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute and Ecotutu in Nigeria with the companies Phaesun GmbH and Solar Cooling Engineering GmbH from Germany under the brand SelfChill.
The walk-in cold room is an autonomous solar-powered cooling system that can be applied to various agricultural value chains. The solution can store produce like fruits, herbs, seeds and other commodities under the required optimal temperature and relative humidity.
The technology, developed by German companies, NSPRI, has adapted the technology to the Nigerian context, while Ecotutu made the technology affordable and accessible for the Nigerian market, focusing on storage rooms for the agric sector.
The Founder and CEO of Ecotutu, Babajide Oluwase, who disclosed that 50 per cent of horticultural goods in the country goes to waste, said the firm would be adopting strategies to increase brand awareness to become household name in the agricultural a pharmaceutical industries.
He emphasised the need to tackle post-harvest losses, as a way to protect the country's population from hunger. "Many businesses need this solution but cannot access it because of cost. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) do not need to buy this solution if they cannot afford it, but they can access it through us and pay for it when it is needed."
Dr. Torres Toledo of SelfChill said their target in Nigeria is to bring stakeholders together and enlighten them on how the solution could solve the challenges of post harvest losses, adding that they'll also ensure that Ecotutu installed many cold rooms and also adapt the model.
A representative of NSPRI, Engr. Adebiyi Adebayo, lamented that the country losses about N3.7tr from post-harvest losses on tomato, adding that with the solution, farmers and traders of perishable fresh agric produce will have a new lease of life.
The President, Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA), Dr. Alexander Isong, said his organisation lays much emphasis on technology, especially assisting farmers from the farm gate.
He said OTACCWA has next to nothing in pre-cooling at the farm gate. "We can actually deploy people starting the business. We see your solution from the side of technology, which is needed for all farmers, seedlings too need cold room."
Dr. Augustine Okoruwa of GAIN, who posited that his organisation sees post-harvest losses as a problem, the step taken by Ecotutu is in line with what they have done, adding that cold chain is very essential for preservation of agricultural produce.
He promised to link the firm with service providers to create more awareness on the cold chain solution. "If you look at the food supply chain, there are ways to apply and add value.
Having a cold chain solution like this is very essential."
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