Ecotutu, a Nigerian firm, has launched a solar-powered cold room system designed to preserve livestock, fruits and vegetables at the Mile 12 International Market in Lagos.
According to the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of
Ecotutu, Babajide Oluwase, the solar-powered cold room is one of several
interesting things the firm intends to do at the market that will include
provision of cold storage services, logistics for traders, farmers, as well as
aggregators, ensuring they are able to get the value of their produce.
Oluwase said 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.
He said they plan to install the cold storage system in 20
other locations, in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo states and in the North, adding that
the system encourages food production and storage, imbues confidence in farmers
and helps to secure the food system in Nigeria.
The co-Founder, and CMO, Ecotutu, Michael Akinsete stated
that their intervention is to plug the waste gap at the production point,
including at the farm gate.
Akinsete said, “Ecotutu’s mission is to democratise access
to affordable and reliable cold storage solutions in Africa.
“Nigerian farmers, aggregators, and retailers manage up to
23 million metric tons of fresh fruits and other vegetables worth $4 billion
annually, yet the country loses between 35 and 45 percent of these due to
postharvest issues during storage and distribution,” Akinsete said.
He noted that post-harvest losses remain a major challenge
confronting the Nigerian agricultural sector for so long.
According to him, Ecotutu provides a solution to
post-harvest losses through its flagship ‘pay-as-you-chill’ model by offering
cooling and logistics services, and facilitating marketplace opportunities for
retailers and wholesalers, without the need for the high upfront costs.
He stated that the cooling facility helps extend the shelf
life of perishable produce from two to 21 days and reduces post-harvest loss by
85 percent.
“Each unit of Ecotutu’s solution eliminates food waste and
preserves the economic value of food, enabling farmers to take a more
significant share of their harvest to market. And more importantly, it boosts
the confidence of the value chain players to remain in the food business.”
The Public Affairs Officer, U.S Consolate, Joseph Kruzich
said the solar-powered cold storage facility would bring great benefits to the
farmers and traders in the area that take their products to the cold room,
partiularly their perishable products, because of round-the-clock protection.
Kruzich acknowledged that Babajide is a Mandela Washington
Fellow of 2022, stating that the Fellowship is a U.S. sponsored programme.
He congratulated Babajide for bringing back what he learned
in the U.S to the Mile 12 market.
Ecotutu is the 2022 winner of Zenith Bank Hackathon and it
won the Orange Corners Programme of the Netherlands.
Kruzich acknowledged that Babajide is a Mandela Washington
Fellow of 2022, stating that the Fellowship is a U.S. sponsored programme.
He congratulated Babajide for bringing back what he learned
in the U.S to the Mile 12 market.
Ecotutu is the 2022 winner of Zenith Bank Hackathon and it
won the Orange Corners Programme of the Netherlands.
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