On mission to reduce post-harvest food loss and empower smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, Munakyalo Agrofresh provides affordable, solar-powered cold storage solutions to help farmers preserve their perishable produce and access better markets. Their innovative cooling hubs are strategically located in rural communities, offering an affordable and sustainable means to reduce food wastage, improve market access, and increase farmers’ incomes.

Munakyalo Agrofresh’s innovative cold storage solution harnesses solar power to provide reliable, off-grid refrigeration for perishable produce. High-efficiency solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into electricity, which is stored in high-capacity batteries to ensure continuous power. This electricity then runs an energy-efficient refrigeration unit that maintains optimal temperatures to extend the shelf life of fruits, vegetables, dairy, and other crops.

Through preventing post-harvest losses, this technology enables smallholder farmers to sell more of their harvest, boosting their incomes and improving food security in the surrounding communities. Importantly, the solar-powered design promotes environmental sustainability, while they training and support empowers farmers to effectively utilize the cold storage and adopt improved agricultural practices.

One of the key challenges Munakyalo Agrofresh faces in scaling its operations is the infrastructure limitations in many rural areas and to overcome this, they invested in robust, off-grid solar solutions and designed its cold storage units to be highly portable and easy to deploy in remote locations. Collaborating with local governments and NGOs also helped improve supporting infrastructure in targeted regions.

Securing adequate funding for scaling and expanding the reach to more farmers is another significant hurdle. Munakyalo Agrofresh has pursued a diversified funding strategy, including grants, impact investments, and partnerships with development agencies to support farmers in accessing their services.

Initially, there was limited awareness and skepticism among smallholder farmers about the benefits and reliability of solar-powered cold storage. Munakyalo Agrofresh conducted extensive outreach and education programs, including demonstrations, workshops, and farmer training sessions. Partnering with local agricultural cooperatives and extension services helped build trust and credibility within the farming communities.

Over time ensuring the technical reliability and regular maintenance of the solar-powered units in remote locations posed logistical challenges. Munakyalo Agrofresh established a network of trained local technicians to provide on-the-spot maintenance and support. They also invested in high-quality, durable components and designed the units to be as user-friendly and low-maintenance as possible.

Munakyalo Agrofresh plans to continuously improve its solutions by incorporating advanced monitoring and management capabilities, such as IoT sensors and data analytics, to further enhance efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness while advocating for supportive policies and fostering partnerships to amplify its impact and maximize benefits for farmers and communities.