UK-Funded Solar Cold Chain Expands Lifesaving Livestock Vaccines to Rural Nigeria

UK-backed agricultural programme Propcom+ is reshaping livestock healthcare in Nigeria’s rural communities by rolling out solar-powered cold chain systems that keep vaccines potent far beyond the reach of the national grid.

Source: AgroNigeria

The climate-smart initiative is tackling one of the livestock sector’s most stubborn challenges: getting safe, effective vaccines into remote areas where unreliable electricity has long made proper storage impossible. By harnessing solar energy, the programme is helping farmers protect their animals from preventable diseases while reducing heavy losses across the value chain.

At a forum on cold chain innovation, Propcom+ Strategy Director, Olumide Ojo, explained that the pilot was designed to close deep-rooted gaps in vaccine storage and distribution in off-grid locations. Over the past year, solar refrigerators were tested in real-world conditions, exposing flaws in the existing system and proving that renewable-powered alternatives can safeguard vaccine quality in rural settings.

Results from the pilot were encouraging. The solar units delivered steady performance, cut operating costs and enabled agrovet businesses to reach communities previously left behind. For smallholder farmers, this translated into access to reliable vaccines and a meaningful step towards reducing Nigeria’s estimated nine-billion-dollar annual burden from livestock diseases.

Babatunde David, who led the commercial viability assessment, said the technology had passed both technical and financial tests. The pilot involved dozens of agrovet operators, showed quick breakeven periods and demonstrated strong potential for scale-up through a mix of development and commercial funding.

Industry players echoed the benefits on the ground. Bami Veterinary CEO, Khadija Shuaibu, noted that conventional refrigerators often fail where power supply is unstable, leaving vaccines at risk. Inter Trade Nigeria’s Managing Director, Eghosa Ogedebe, added that solar units are more durable because they run on steady DC power instead of erratic grid electricity.

By blending innovation with practical financing and renewable energy, Propcom+ is strengthening herd protection across rural Nigeria while opening new commercial opportunities for agrovet operators—proof that smarter cold chain solutions can deliver both economic and health dividends for the livesto

ck sector.