Two women taking inventory of their food products inside a cold storage room as a part of the Solar-Powered Cold Rooms programs.

Solar-Powered Cold Rooms: Protecting produce to increase income stability for small farmers and cold room owners alike

THIS PROJECT CAN HELP YOU ADDRESS:

  • Heat stress caused by climate change that spoils produce and increases food waste
  • Economic instability and limited options for rural women farmers and Self Help Groups

THE PROBLEM

Every year, tons of ripe produce spoil in open markets before they can reach the buyer. Farmers must sell their harvest as quickly as possible, while prices dwindle in the heat of the day. With the added pressures of long travel times and unstable income, there are no market incentives for farmers to grow more produce. Meanwhile, women organized in Self Help Groups sell their wares at the market, but they also face little or wavering demand for their goods.

THE SOLUTION

Solar-powered, thermal battery cold rooms can be operated with no energy costs and without depending on an unreliable grid. Training Self Help Groups to own, maintain, and leverage these cold rooms provides them with agency and long-term economic opportunities. In turn, the Self Help Groups offer optionality to small farmers, who can safely bring more produce to market in fewer trips. The cold rooms generate reliable demand for farmers, who choose whether to sell or to store their produce until prices increase.

THE IMPACT

  • Reduces risk for farmers, encouraging them to grow larger crops
  • Eliminates 75% of food waste
  • Doubles income for women in Self-Help Groups

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