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In the agrarian district of Udi, local cassava farmers traditionally suffered substantial post-harvest losses because fresh tubers deteriorated within forty-eight hours of uprooting if not processed immediately into garri. To mitigate these losses, a youth cooperative introduced solar-powered cold-storage hubs where farmers could store harvested cassava at low temperatures for up to two weeks for a small daily fee. While elder processors initially resisted the technological innovation due to skepticism regarding solar energy reliability during the rainy season, the subsequent stabilization of market prices caused a shift in community attitude. Previously, oversupply during peak harvest months forced farmers to sell their yield at distress prices to visiting merchants. With the cold hubs operational, farmers now regulate the release of their produce onto the market, maintaining steady pricing throughout the year and significantly raising average household incomes.
Statement: Before the introduction of the solar-powered storage hubs, cassava farmers in Udi were vulnerable to price exploitation by merchants during peak harvest periods.
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