Yvonne Anyonyi Mumiah, a Kenyan farmer, now uses solar-powered cool storage to preserve her crops, including rosemary and basil, destined for European supermarkets. Previously concerned with transport delays and extreme heat causing spoilage, Mumiah now relies on SoKo Fresh’s pay-per-use cold storage service. This reflects a growing trend in Africa to employ solar power to reduce food spoilage.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation highlights that up to 40% of food in Africa is lost between harvest and sale, mainly due to insufficient storage and transport infrastructure. Solar-powered cold storage is helping address this by providing off-grid cooling facilities, which help preserve perishable goods without relying on costly electricity grids. This change is prominent in Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa.
Mumiah states, “The biggest challenge was preserving the quality after harvest.” Fee-based services now allow farmers to avoid immediate sales due to spoilage fears, providing added flexibility and income stability.
Temperature rises and climate change are stressing food handling systems, making cooling technology crucial in maintaining fresh produce. While advanced cold-chain networks in countries like India and the U.S. help keep produce marketable for weeks, many African farmers lack similar opportunities.
Emmanuel Aziebor of CLASP calls cold storage a missing link in Africa’s agriculture value chain. By storing produce longer, farmers can access better markets and reduce waste. SoKo Fresh reportedly decreased spoilage rates for clients from up to 50% to under 2% while improving earnings by up to 50% per kilogram.
In Nigeria, ColdHubs installs solar-powered cold rooms, allowing farmers to rent space daily. Rwanda uses solar refrigeration for dairy cooperatives, Ethiopia is expanding cold-chain investments for horticultural exports. Such developments support improved food security and reduce greenhouse emissions by cutting reliance on diesel generators.
Beyond environmental benefits, economic gains are significant. Aziebor emphasizes converting electricity into opportunity. Solar-powered irrigation and processing equipment are adding value to agricultural products. However, funding for these projects remains a challenge.
Carol Koech from the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet says the main challenge now is building scalable projects to attract investment. Though grants and loans offer support, fragmented markets and small-scale producers pose barriers. Denis Karema from SoKo Fresh mentions high investment risks due to a lack of proven business models.
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