By Chinedu Okafor, African Agricultural Correspondent
A United Kingdom (UK)-funded climate-smart agriculture initiative, Propcom+, is reshaping Nigeria’s livestock health system through the deployment of solar-powered cold chain solutions in rural communities.
The programme, which also supports value chains in rice, maize, and sorghum, is designed to make vaccines more accessible while reducing losses from livestock diseases that cost Nigeria an estimated $9 billion annually.
At a recent event titled “Unlocking Cold Chain Innovation: Lessons from the Solar Refrigerator Pilot for Poultry and Livestock Vaccine Storage and Distribution”, Propcom+ Strategy Director, Olumide Ojo, explained that the project addresses critical gaps in vaccine distribution, particularly in remote areas.
“The solar-powered refrigerator pilot ensures that vaccines remain potent and accessible in rural communities, reducing the need for farmers to travel long distances to urban centres,” Ojo said.
The pilot, conducted over the past 6–12 months, tested solar refrigeration systems in off-grid communities and revealed significant advantages over conventional cold chain methods. Findings showed that solar-powered refrigerators deliver reliable performance, reduce operational costs, and expand market opportunities for agrovet businesses.
Dr. Babatunde David, who led the commercial viability assessment, confirmed that the solar models are technologically sound, financially viable, and suitable for nationwide scale-up.
“The pilot reached 42 agrovets, recorded short breakeven periods, and proved the model is bankable for both commercial and development financing,” he noted, adding that blended financing mechanisms could ease adoption for small-scale operators.
Highlighting the practical benefits, Dr. Khadija Shuaibu, CEO of Bami Veterinary, stressed the importance of reliable cold chain systems:
“Traditional refrigerators often fail in areas with unstable electricity supply. Solar-powered units ensure vaccine potency is preserved.”
Similarly, Engr. Eghosa Ogedebe, Managing Director of Inter Trade Nigeria Limited, explained that solar units experience fewer mechanical failures because they run on regulated DC power rather than unstable grid electricity.
With Propcom+’s solar-powered approach, smallholder farmers in Nigeria’s rural livestock sector are gaining better access to vaccines, protecting their herds, and unlocking new business opportunities for agrovet operators.
