Cold chain technology leverages refrigeration equipment to preserve crops’ original quality until they reach the consumer, reducing the chance of spoilage which results in post-harvest losses.
By Michael Akuchie
Early this month, the popular Nigerian newspaper, Premium Times, conducted a large-scale investigation on one of the major factors behind the country’s rising food insecurity: post-harvest losses. Among the many stories shared, the account of the onion farmers was perhaps the most heart-wrenching. From a farm in Kano, a state in the northwest, a truckload of onions—a staple ingredient in many meals—was dispatched to Port Harcourt, a city in the southern region.
During the journey, the truck developed a mechanical fault that left it stranded for days, exposing the onions to a relentless heatwave. By the time the crops finally arrived in Port Harcourt, a significant portion of the harvest had rotted. The few onions that were salvaged from the wreckage had to be sold below market value as a result.
In Nigeria, as in virtually any other place, crops like fruits and vegetables must travel from the farm to the consumer’s table, with the journey only complete upon consumption. Unfortunately, a significant portion of food never reaches the final consumer due to a variety of factors.
For instance, traditional storage methods such as fermentation, drying, and packing leafy vegetables in clay pots may not withstand extreme temperatures, such as heat waves. Additionally, losses can occur during transportation on roads notorious for giant potholes and numerous security checkpoints, which cause delays and further compromise the quality of the produce.
While large-scale farmers may be better poised to handle post-harvest losses, small-scale farm operations often suffer more. Many small-scale farmers rely on the proceeds from the sale of their harvest to survive and procure more seeds for future planting seasons. It is worth mentioning that bad roads and poor storage methods are not the only reasons for Nigeria’s rising post-harvest losses.
Insecurity, too, has threatened farmers’ livelihood, with more cases of kidnapping and clashes with herdsmen being reported regularly. In February 2022, a Forbes article stated that terrorism was a potential threat to Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Four months ago, Melissa Jones, the Mission Director for The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), revealed that around 50% of farm produce never makes it to the final consumer. With farmers unable to meet the growing demand for food, it is no longer surprising that the available produce is sold at ridiculously high amounts.
In March this year, Nigeria’s food inflation soared to 40.01%, highlighting the dire state of affairs. This surge not only indicates that food has become significantly more expensive, but it also raises critical concerns about the ability of vulnerable Nigerians, such as the unemployed and low-income families, to afford the nutritious food necessary for proper body development.
Global non-governmental organisation (NGO) ActionAid International made some astonishing revelations during a stakeholder meeting in 2022. According to the group’s findings, Nigeria’s post-harvest losses were estimated to be worth N3.5 trillion annually.
In developed countries like the US and England, technology has advanced to the point where harvested crops are stored at the optimal temperature to ensure their freshness upon delivery to the buyer. This is achieved through the use of cold chain storage facilities. Cold chain technology utilises refrigeration equipment to maintain the crops’ original quality until they reach the consumer, significantly reducing the likelihood of spoilage and post-harvest losses.
Interestingly, vaccines, which are used to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, are stored in a similar manner. In addition to protecting perishable crops from spoilage, cold chain storage can also extend the shelf life of food both at home and in stores.
According to USA Refrigerated Freight, a company that deals with the transport and handling of perishable goods, there are three steps to the agricultural cold chain process. First, crops are sourced from the farm and prepared for delivery to a cold chain storage space where they will remain for a short or long-term basis.
Next, the produce is stored at a temperature that preserves its quality. Finally, once the farmer is ready to distribute the crops, they are loaded onto refrigerated vans for transport to distributors, ensuring that the produce maintains an optimal temperature from the farm all the way to the consumer.
A nationwide adoption of cold storage facilities can help reduce Nigeria’s post-harvest losses by far as it will reduce farmers’ worries about the quality of their produce upon harvest. Most times, a great deal of the crops spoil before they leave the farm. On other occasions, they spoil on the way, leaving the farmer with fewer crops to sell which translates to fewer profits.
Cold chain storage technology can change this trend, enabling farmers to distribute top-tier produce after harvest. This can play a major role in lowering the country’s food insecurity and the prices of food. It also assures them higher profits to invest in farming equipment.
While this seems great in theory, implementing cold chain storage in developing countries like Nigeria is quite difficult. These facilities are expensive to acquire, putting them out of reach for small-scale farmers, who represent 80% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s farm operations. Beyond the cost factor, one must also consider the country’s poor road network. In a ranking published last year, Nigeria was among the top ten African countries with poor road infrastructure, occupying sixth position.
Even if crops are refrigerated in cooler vans, those vans must still navigate Nigeria’s terrible roads. The poor road conditions can cause mechanical faults in the vehicles as they attempt to avoid potholes, potentially threatening the quality of crops in transit.
Power is another significant issue for cold chain storage facilities. Nigeria’s unreliable power supply means farmers must rely on alternative energy sources, such as renewable energy. However, solar panels and batteries are costly, posing a challenge for small-scale farmers. If the agriculture ministry, in collaboration with corporate groups, could establish loan funds to assist farmers in acquiring this equipment, it might bridge the gap between farmers and the essential modern technologies.
Agriculture remains a pathway to prosperity in Nigeria, despite the country’s increasing focus on crude oil. With the right attention, farming could become a significant employer of labour, enhance national food security, and position Nigeria as a major player in global trade. However, addressing post-harvest losses through the introduction of cold chain storage techniques is essential for achieving these goals.
With the right preservation methods in place, more crops would safely reach the market from the farm, ensuring that consumers, especially those economically disadvantaged, can access them at reasonable prices.
Michael Akuchie is a tech journalist with four years of experience covering cybersecurity, AI, automotive trends, and startups. He reads human-angle stories in his spare time. He’s on X (fka Twitter) as @Michael_Akuchie & michael_akuchie on Instagram.
Cover photo credit: Fresh Produce