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These Solar-Powered Fridges are Changing Lives In Nigeria

Source: coldhubs.com

Nigerian entrepreneur invents a 100% solar-powered refrigeration system that keeps fish, fruit and vegetables from spoiling for farmers, making more nutritious, safe, hygienic food available for Nigerians.

So far the fridges have saved over 20,000 tons of food from spoilage

Arguably one of the great inventions in human history, the refrigerator, is now being introduced to rural fish and produce markets in Nigeria thanks to one entrepreneur’s invention of 100% solar-powered walk-in cold storage rooms. ColdHubs installs these clean, green walk-in fridges at Nigerian markets to help farmers and vendors cut down on spoilage and increase profits. ColdHubs currently serves 3,517 users and their 24 Hubs have saved over 20,000 tons of food from spoilage, increased user income, and created 48 new jobs for women.

ColdHubs target is to hire mainly women to manage the operations and collection of revenue at Coldhubs stations.
Creating Jobs for Women ColdHubs target is to hire mainly women to manage the operations and collection of revenue at Coldhubs stations. Source: coldhubs.com

At a rental cost of $1 a day, users are able to sell more fresh produce

Nnaemeka C. Ikegwuonu has already received many awards for his pioneering invention ColdHubs, which use transformative technology to tackle several problems at once. — reported GoodNewsNetwork.

Some 6,000 tons of fish are harvested daily on the rural Nigeria side of the Niger Delta, however, due to the tropical climate only 2,000 tons of fish are sold fresh. The story is the same for fruit and vegetables, which can survive on average a maximum of only two days in the West African heat and humidity.

Designed specifically for off-grid areas, ColdHubs employ rooftop solar panels to generate enough electricity to power the units in all weather conditions, while providing reliable 24/7 autonomous refrigeration. This cuts down on spoilage, but also leads to much higher profits.

For example: a bag of fresh bonga fish should fetch between $20 and $40, however, without cold-storage facilities, fishermen either sell the same bag for much less to avoid spoilage, or they smoke or dry the fish and sell it days later—while accepting much less due to the higher value and demand that fresh fish commands.

ColdHubs currently serves 3,517 farmers and fishermen. The company has so far installed 24 Hubs, saving over 20,000 tons of food from spoilage, and employing 48 women to service the refrigerators. At a rental cost of $1 a day on a pay-as-you-go subscription model, users can increase their income by being able to sell more fresh food.

Source: GoodNewsNetwork 

Coldhubs extend the shelf life of perishable food from 2 days to 21, reducing post harvest loss by 80%.
Reducing Food Waste Coldhubs extend the shelf life of perishable food from 2 days to 21, reducing post harvest loss by 80%. Source: coldhubs.com

The fridges increase vendor and farmer profits by 25% on average

Formerly an agricultural radio host, Ikegwuonu grew up on a farm and understands that food spoilage is a major impediment to farmers’ livelihoods.

ColdHub fridges can extend the life of fruit and vegetables from two to 21 days. This increases vendor and farmer profits by 25% on average, says the company. It also increases entrepreneurial energy among the users, as literal days of their life are freed up from having to spend time buying, sourcing, shipping, or throwing away extra produce.

Ikegwuonu won the 2020 Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award and its $50,000 cash prize, which he says he will use “to build two ColdHubs in two fruit and vegetable markets, saving 3,285 tons of food from spoilage yearly, increase the income of 200 users, and create four new jobs for women.”

For Ikegwuonu there’s more than money to the equation.

Ikegwuonu told Global Citizen., “Tackling food spoilage is important because, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), it is estimated that a 10% reduction in global food loss will result in an 11% decrease in hunger, and a 4% decrease in child malnutrition worldwide.”

“In Nigeria, a 35% reduction in post-harvest tomato loss alone would [impact] vitamin A deficiency for up to 1.1 million children per day,” he added.

It’s a classic economic case of ‘what is seen and what is unseen.’ And Ikegwuonu, Nigeria, and even the world, might never understand how much entrepreneurial, educational, or economic advances could arise from ColdHubs’ presence in the country.

Source: GoodNewsNetwork 

With more of their harvest to sell, smallholder farmers will be able to increase their annual income by 25%.
Increasing Local Farmer Income With more of their harvest to sell, smallholder farmers will be able to increase their annual income by 25%. Source: coldhubs.com
The business model will enable participants to become self-sustainable within the first year of operation.
Self-Sustainable Business Model The business model will enable participants to become self-sustainable within the first year of operation. Source: coldhubs.com
More nutritious food will be available to rural and urban dwellers, especially children, thanks to the ColdHubs system.
A Reduction in Malnutrition More nutritious food will be available to rural and urban dwellers, especially children, thanks to the ColdHubs system. Source: coldhubs.com
Highly honored with 23 awards - Ashoka Fellow 2008, Rolex Awards 2010, Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative in Business 2012, Nigeria’s Young Person of the Year 2011, Niigata International Food Prize Laureate, 2012 and 2013 Laureate of the Yara Prize for Green Revolution .
Nnaemeka C. Ikegwuonu has been showered with awards for his pioneering ColdHubs. Highly honored with 23 awards – Ashoka Fellow 2008, Rolex Awards 2010, Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative in Business 2012, Nigeria’s Young Person of the Year 2011, Niigata International Food Prize Laureate, 2012 and 2013 Laureate of the Yara Prize for Green Revolution . Source: globalcitizen.org
ColdHubs: An OGCCC Finalist ColdHubs, one of four finalists in the Global LEAP Awards Off-Grid Cold Chain Challenge, is a company that aims to establish a seamless cold chain from the farm to the market, making more nutritious, safe, hygienic food available for Nigerians. Source: YouTube/EfficiencyforAccess
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