UK funded climate smart agriculture initiative, Propcom+, has restated its commitment to reducing Nigeria’s estimated $9 billion annual livestock disease burden through the expansion of solar powered cold chain systems that improve vaccine access in rural communities.
At a forum titled ‘Unlocking Cold Chain Innovation’, strategy director Olumide Ojo explained that Propcom+ recently concluded a 6-to-12-month pilot on solar powered refrigerators to address long standing weaknesses in vaccine storage and distribution in off grid locations.
He said the pilot showed that the solar units consistently preserved vaccine potency, lowered operating costs and helped agrovet businesses extend their services to rural areas.
Mr Ojo noted that farmers in remote settlements are now accessing reliable vaccines, a development expected to contribute significantly to the reduction of national livestock losses.
He described the cold chain improvement as a major boost for animal health and rural livelihoods.
At a forum tagged Unlocking Cold Chain Innovation which reviewed results from a recent solar refrigerator pilot, Propcom Plus strategy director Olumide Ojo explained that the project focused on identifying the key failures in existing cold storage for vaccines in off grid locations.
He said the pilot, carried out over a period of 6 to 12 months, showed that solar refrigerators preserved vaccine potency consistently while cutting operating costs for agrovet businesses.
According to him, the new system has already allowed more smallholder farmers in remote settlements to obtain effective vaccines, a development expected to reduce the country’s heavy livestock disease burden. Mr Ojo added that improved cold storage is also helping agrovets widen their market reach.
Babutunde David, who led the commercial viability study, noted that the tested solar models are technologically reliable and financially sustainable. He said the pilot involved 42 agrovet operators who recorded short breakeven timelines, proving that the cold chain solution can attract both development and commercial investors. He also highlighted the potential of blended finance to support broader uptake among small operators.
Khadija Shuaibu, chief executive of Bami Veterinary, said dependable cold storage is essential for animal health services and pointed out that conventional refrigerators frequently fail in communities with unstable power supply.
Another participant, Eghosa Ogedebe, managing director of Inter Trade Nigeria Ltd, observed that solar powered units experience fewer breakdowns because they run on stable direct current rather than inconsistent grid electricity.
