A UK-funded climate-smart agriculture initiative, Propcom+, has introduced solar-powered cold chain systems to deepen livestock vaccine access in Nigeria’s rural communities.

The programme, which also supports major agricultural value chains such as rice, maize and sorghum, aims to curb livestock disease losses by improving vaccine availability in hard-to-reach areas.

Speaking at an 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, said the intervention addresses long-standing gaps in vaccine storage and distribution in off-grid locations.

He said the solar-powered refrigerator pilot, implemented over the last six to 12 months, evaluated weaknesses in the existing cold chain system and tested solar units to maintain vaccine potency in remote communities.

According to him, findings showed that solar refrigerators offer reliable operation, lower running costs and help agrovet businesses expand their reach.

Mr Ojo stated that the initiative had enabled smallholder farmers in off-grid communities to access potent vaccines, helping reduce Nigeria’s estimated $9 billion annual livestock disease burden.

The leader of the commercial viability assessment, Babatunde David, said the solar models were technologically sound, financially viable, and ready for national scale-up.

He said the pilot engaged 42 agrovets, recorded short breakeven periods and demonstrated that the model is bankable for both development and commercial financing.

Blended financing options, he added, could support wider adoption among small agrovet operators.

The CEO of Bami Veterinary, Khadija Shuaibu, stressed the importance of reliable cold storage,adding that traditional refrigerators often fail in areas with unstable electricity supply.

Also speaking, Eghosa Ogedebe, managing director of Inter Trade Nigeria Ltd., said solar units experience fewer mechanical breakdowns because they operate on regulated DC power rather than erratic grid electricity.

Propcom+’s solar-powered approach is improving vaccine access across Nigeria’s rural livestock sector, strengthening herd protection while expanding business opportunities for agrovet operators.

(NAN)