In line with its drive to address the issue of post-harvest losses in the country, Ecotutu, a provider of off-grid cold chain solutions for businesses in the agriculture value chain, has launched its services in Sabo Gida area in Nasarawa State.
 
Sabon Gida, a commercial community in Lafia, which lies on the border of neighbouring Plateau State, boasts of a market serving farmers, fishermen, and traders. The community first connected to reliable power from a Husk Power Systems (Husk) mini grid in 2022, and now the cold storage facility can leverage this for its operations.

At the launch, the company inaugurated a dual-purpose 3.75-tonne capacity cold room in the Sabongida market. This cold room will provide Cooling-as-a-service, offering refrigeration solutions for fruits, vegetables, and fresh proteins like meat and fish.

The Country Director for Husk Power Systems in Nigeria, Olu Aruike, said as the co-operator for the cold storage facility, Husk is demonstrating a key aspect of its business model — collaborating with willing stakeholders and partners in energy, food, water and mobility to build thriving rural economies.

“As the market leader in scaling mini grids, this project is a clear example of how reliable and modern power is the stepping stone for sustainable economic growth in rural Nigeria.”

According to the company, the initiative is the result of a collaboration between Ecotutu and Husk Power, a mini-grid developer, facilitated through the Energising Agriculture Programme’s Agriculture-Energy Innovation Accelerator, a partnership by Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency.

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) generously supports the Programme. The accelerator pairs rural mini-grids with Nigerian entrepreneurs who help communities use power to improve their livelihoods.

The Manager of the Programme, Andrew Allee says the Energising Agriculture Programme is proud to support Ecotutu and Husk Power in reducing food spoilage through cold storage.

“We expect that putting renewable energy to work in Sabon Gida will increase earnings for local traders and producers, while also supporting the local infrastructure that powers the refrigeration through increased electricity sales.”
 
Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Ecotutu, Mr. Michael Akinsete, expressed enthusiasm for the milestone achievement, noting that the launch represents a significant stride towards fulfilling Ecotutu’s mission of establishing 20 solar-powered cold rooms in major open markets across Northern and Southern Nigeria within the next 24 months. “It is just day one on this transformative journey to combat post-harvest losses and fortify Nigeria’s food system.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Ecotutu, Babajide Oluwase, affirms that “Ecotutu remains committed to its vision of pioneering energy-efficient cold chain solutions that transform the agricultural landscape in Nigeria and beyond.”

Oluwase said the endeavour in Sabon Gida represents a significant step towards achieving that vision, fostering economic growth, reducing post-harvest losses, and building a more resilient food system for the people of Northern Nigeria.