At Ecotutu launch, Olusanya attributes food losses to inappropriate cold storage services

The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, has said the amount of food losses in the country to inappropriate cold storage solutions facilities.

Olusanya, who disclosed this during the launch of a solar-powered cold storage infrastructure in Mile 12 Market, Lagos, powered by a startup accelerating off-grid cooling solutions firm – Ecotutu, said cold storage facilities would address scarcity of food and ensure that the average man on the street can buy food at an affordable price, with good quality.
 
“What the Ecotutu guys have done here is a phenomenon. One might look at it and say it’s nothing big, it’s just small cold solution storage, but it isn’t. They are very young people; it means they are thinking about the future of Nigeria, it shows that they are very well involved in the progress of this country and in the progress of our people.

“This is all of us working together collectively, putting resources together in a way that is cohesive, and at the end of the day, the average man on the street can buy food at an affordable price, good quality, and the food lasts longer so that the person doesn’t need to throw it away or buy at a more expensive prices because of scarcity.”

The Founder and CEO of the firm, Babajide Oluwase, described the launch as the beginning of plans within the market to provide cold storage services, as well as logistics to traders, farmers and aggregators and ensuring that they are able to get the value for their produce.

“In the next 18 to 24 months, we are planning to replicate what we have done here across 20 other locations. Some of them will be in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and beyond.

“In terms of job creation, we are very integral in targeting women and youths, we don’t just employ, we are particular about training them about technology to drive the company. The off-grid cooling system has a capacity of 20 tons and is divided into two segments – the protein (livestock) and fruits and vegetables. The section for fruits and vegetables takes up to 300 crates of 25kg.”

Oluwase added that Ecotutu would address wastage and post harvest losses, adding that through the launch, “we are restoring that confidence in the farmers. When Ecotutyu spreads across the markets, it will address wastage and also strengthen our food system.”

On his part, the Co-founder and CMO, Ecotutu, Michael Akinsete, said, “For us, it’s about clogging the waste gap at the production point, whether at the farm gate or in open markets and the plan is to replicate this across Nigeria – Lagos, Ogun, and across the six geopolitical zones within 18 to 24 months.

“As a lay man that comes to the market to buy, this facility will help them to reduce losses to store their fresh produce to maximise profit. Instead of hotels and restaurants coming daily to pick their fresh produce, they can buy in bulk and keep with us and when they need it, we can help them transport it because we also facilitate cold transportation of these produce. We have independent truck owners that bring goods from the North to the South, bringing produce from the farm gate down to the open market. We also do intra city transportation of fresh produce.”

The Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate, Joseph Kruzich, said the initiative is going to bring benefits to all the traders and farmers in the area.

While lauding the Lagos State Government for its efforts at making Lagos an agric hub, he said the initiative is an evidence of the relationship between the Unites States and Nigeria.

Kruzich said the launch is an example of the developing tie in agriculture, adding that they are working closely with experts to ensure that Nigerians can export their produce to the US.