ColdHubs launched a 100%, solar powered ice block maker - IcePoints facility, with 1 ton of ice block daily production capacity in the Petti Community, Kwali Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria, on November 14, 2023.
The project was funded by the Rocky Mountain Institute as part of the Energizing Agriculture Program (EAP) to catalyze economic development, improve rural livelihoods in Nigeria, and stimulate the use of mini-grid electricity in agricultural productivity.
The indigenous people of Petti are predominantly farmers and low-income earners with limited access to electricity and low infrastructure development.
This innovation will help to create jobs, reduce post-harvest loss, and improve the preservation of meat and fish. In the past, smallholder farmers and female entrepreneurs used sunlight to preserve their farm produce, which has not been so effective.
The traditional ruler of Petti Community, who spoke to the ColdHubs Team, said that getting fresh produce is usually a challenge as fruits, vegetables, and other perishable produce by farmers rapidly deteriorate due to high temperatures and a lack of storage facilities in the area.
He expressed gratitude to ColdHubs, Rocky Mountain Institute, and Nayo Tropical Technology for their immense contribution towards developing communities in Nigeria.