Cooling
Produce in mobile coldstore
Mobile Coldstore
Produce in coldstore
Solar-powered cold storage room
Temperature Checking
The challenges we solve
Rural communities in East Africa face significant challenges in preserving agricultural produce. Without reliable refrigeration, perishable goods such as fruits, vegetables, fish, and dairy often spoil within 24–48 hours. Farmers are forced to sell at throw-away prices or discard their harvest altogether.
The lack of cold storage contributes to:
- Post-harvest losses exceeding 30%, especially during peak seasons.
- Reduced incomes for farmers unable to store or aggregate produce.
- Limited access to high-value markets that require assured quality and freshness.
- Food insecurity and poor nutrition in remote or off-grid areas.
Despite the clear need for refrigeration, most rural regions lack dependable electricity, making conventional systems unviable. Smart Villages addresses this challenge through locally adapted, renewable-powered cold storage solutions that strengthen the entire agricultural ecosystem.
Solutions-oriented approach
Smart Villages introduces solar-powered cold storage systems and mobile cooling units designed for off-grid communities. These systems are developed with local partners to ensure long-term sustainability and community ownership.
Solar powered cold rooms
Our solar-powered cold rooms in Kasese, Uganda, established in partnership with Kiima Foods, provide reliable refrigeration for farmer cooperatives. These walk-in cold rooms:
- Operate entirely on solar power with battery backup.
- Are managed by cooperatives so multiple farmers can store their produce collectively.
- Reduce spoilage, improve bargaining power, and enable access to premium markets.
- Integrate into Smart Agri-Centres, offering training, value addition, and market linkage support.
Mobile cooling solutions
In Kisii, Kenya, with partners EASVRM, we have piloted mobile cooling units that bring cold storage closer to producers.
These solar-powered portable coolers are mounted on electric vehicles and help traders move perishable goods from farms to aggregation points and markets—bridging the critical “first mile” gap in the cold chain.
Each installation is designed using locally available materials and construction methods, ensuring affordability, ease of maintenance, and adaptability to community needs.
Consultancy
In addition to implementing cooling systems, Smart Villages also offers consultancy on appropriate cooling technologies.
We advise organisations on identifying, designing, and deploying context-specific cold storage and refrigeration solutions.
Need to calculate how much produce can be stored in your coldstore?
Download our handy coldstore capacity calculator
Impact
Smart Villages’ solar-powered cooling solutions have helped transform rural economies by extending the shelf life of perishable goods, improving food safety, and increasing farmer incomes.
Our monitoring and feedback from communities show that cold storage access:
- Reduces post-harvest losses by up to 30%.
- Enhances food security and nutrition outcomes in off-grid communities.
- Strengthens cooperative structures and local entrepreneurship.
More specifically, we have experience in cooling for both dairy (milk coolers) and perishables (fruits, vegetables), helping producers:
- Reduce post-harvest losses by extending the shelf life of their products
- Maintain the quality of milk and fresh produce, improving food safety and market value
- Store goods collectively, enabling cooperative marketing and bulk sales
- Earn more income, thanks to better price negotiation and reduced spoilage
Beyond cooling
But the impact doesn’t stop there. By combining cold storage with:
- Training in post-harvest handling and value addition
- Business development and cooperative strengthening
- Facilitated access to local and regional markets
…we create a comprehensive solution that empowers communities not just to preserve their harvest, but to transform it into lasting income and opportunity. Our integrated approach creates lasting social, environmental, and economic benefits. Our experience has demonstrated that reliable, renewable-powered refrigeration is not just possible, but transformative for rural livelihoods.
