Chapters 8.56

8.56-Implementation of Solar-Powered Lanterns for Selling Produce at Night Markets

Paige Leitch, University of Guelph, Canada

Suggested citation for this chapter.

Leitch,P. (2022) Implementation of Solar-Powered Lanterns for Selling Produce at Night Markets,In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org

Introduction to Solar Powered Lanterns

Only 23% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa live in areas with electricity; similarly, only 1% of rural Uganda and Kenya have grid access (Adkins et al. 2010). Without electricity families become reliant on kerosene-fueled lanterns to provide light for cooking, studying or running market stalls (Pode, 2010). These types of lamps increase the risk of burn-related injuries, and respiratory infections (Chamania et al. 2014). While many subsistence farmers are unaware of alternative lighting, solar-powered lanterns remain available and are potentially beneficial for adoption. Unlike kerosene lamps, which burn fuel to emit light, solar-powered lanterns create light from the energy of the sun. During daylight hours, the user places the lantern in sunlight, and it will collect the energy from the sun, then when it becomes nighttime the user can flip a switch on the lantern and light will be emitted (Krebs et al. 2010). These lanterns range in price, but once charged the lanterns produce a steady and continuous source of light for multiple hours and are highly durable, making these lanterns a potential source of light to help smallholder farmers sell food products at night markets.

Overview of the Benefits of Nighttime Lighting

In comparison to other lighting methods, solar-powered lights produce a greater amount of light for a longer duration, on average lasting up to 50,000 hours (Adkins et al. 2010). They operate four times more efficiently than fuel-based options (Adkins et al. 2010). As the output of light increases, the relative safety of the vendor increases as well (Cozens, 2015). The light mitigates against theft, or other criminal activity (Committee of World Food Security, 2016). Brighter light allows for an increase in natural surveillance, increasing the perception of a thief that they will be caught (Cozens, 2015). Vendors will also see an increase in personal safety as a brighter light allows for visibility of their work area (Alstone et al., 2014). If the vendor needs to chop food produce to sell it, its visibility will reduce chances of injury (Johnstone et al. 2009). A brighter light creates more eye-catching stalls, attracting potential customers and providing adequate lighting for the vendor to conduct business (Johnstone et al. 2009).

Impact on Selling Food Products

Globally more than 80% of subsistence farmers create income from local markets (Ibra et al., 2012). Local markets employ 37.8% of the labour force in West Africa, the majority being women (Ibra et al., 2012). The ability to participate in markets is dependent on the possession of productive assets (Olwande et al. 2015). Productive assets include supplies that allow for production on a farm or vendor setting; access to lighting is a part of this (Olwande et al. 2015). Women subsistence farmers have gender-specific constraints that prevent their access to markets, such as time constraints and lack of control on economic matters (Committee of World Food Security, 2016). Due to the efficiency of solar-powered lanterns, they can extend market hours (Committee of World Food Security, 2016). Most solar lanterns can hold a charge for 4-8 hours, greatly extending the usage of the lantern past dusk (Obeng & Evers, 2009). The longer quantity of higher quality light increases the ability to generate additional income (Obeng & Evers, 2009). On average, solar-powered lanterns can increase a vendor's work hours by 1-5 hours (Obeng & Evers, 2009). At the Equator, daylength is always 12 hours, with an early sunset. In the subtropical regions of Africa, the average day length fluctuates across the seasons, reaching minimal daylight throughout November- February (World Data, 2021). In these regions and times, the additional hours of business that can be conducted in areas devoid of grid-electricity will contribute to improving the livelihoods of the poorest peoples (Obeng & Evers, 2009).

Cost Analysis

Solar powered lanterns have begun to emerge as cost-competitive options for vendors, compared to other fuel-based lighting (Adkins et al. 2010). On average 25% of a subsistence farmer income is spent on fuel; this number does not include the time required to collect fuel. Longer travel distances add to additional travel time and costs, which contributes to abstaining from market participation (Olwande et al. 2015). A study of rural Ghana market vendors demonstrated that the use of solar lanterns reduced costs by $1-5/month compared to kerosene lanterns (Obeng & Evers, 2009). Figure 1 features a table detailing various solar-powered lanterns, with comparisons of price, duration, and lantern features. This list is not exhaustive but provides an insight of potential lighting options for subsistence farmers.

Figure 1. Solar-Powered Lanterns Information

*Can also be purchased in bulk orders for a reduced price

Critical Analysis

Certain non-governmental organizations are prioritizing electrifying rural off-grid regions of Africa, however the implementation of solar-powered lanterns is a lower-cost partial alternative (Bensch et al., 2017). However, solar lanterns do have shortcomings that could potentially be overcome. One concern is that lanterns may require additional repair costs if they become faulty (Grimm, 2016). Broken parts affect the user’s interest in continuing to use the lantern (Obeng & Evers, 2009). Many rural areas lack access to repair shops (Obeng & Evers, 2009). The introduction of solar-powered technology may be a new concept for many subsistence farmers (Krebs et al. 2010). Therefore, education of its usage will maximize its benefits. Low education levels can directly impact the users' ability to adopt new technology (Ibra et al., 2012). A study of solar-powered lanterns in rural Madhya Pradesh, India, demonstrated that many villagers were unaware of solar-power technology but welcomed the idea of new light sources (Chamania et al. 2014). Without instruction on the function of solar-powered lanterns, many adults struggled to understand how it worked. However, with basic instruction and explanation, there was an increase in understanding (Ibra et al., 2012). A diagram depicting the science and function of the lantern will be beneficial, as one villager from the project attempted to charge the lantern by the light of a fire (Krebs et al. 2010). Children proved to understand the technology faster, so their participation in working the lantern may be required, at least at initial implementation (Krebs et al. 2010).

While the adoption of these solar-powered lanterns may prove to be beneficial for night market sales, the availability of these lanterns across the African continent may vary. Subsistence farmers living in the tropics face increased precipitation, receiving on average 700-1000 mm of rainfall per year, limiting the amount of sunlight and consequently charging time the lanterns require (Committee of World Food Security, 2016). In the subtropical regions, the variation in daylight may also pose issues for charge time (World Data, 2021). Some lanterns may require up to 8 hours of daylight of charge time which may not be viable for certain times of the year (Chamania et al. 2014). In previous studies, users of the lanterns expressed concern for solar-powered charging. Certain individuals believe the charge to not “sufficient” compared to other lanterns charged by batteries (Alstone et al., 2014). Others expressed worry that since the lantern requires exterior charging, there is the possibility of theft, especially since the user does not need to oversee charging (Alstone et al., 2014).

Conclusion

Compared to the current accepted practice of kerosene lanterns providing light for night market stalls, solar power lanterns prove to be a better alternative. These lanterns provide light more efficiently while posing no health risks to the user (Pode, 2010). Also allowing subsistence farmers to extend the time spent selling their farm products increases their income (Olwande et al. 2015). However, the implementation of these lanterns will require education and may require additional services if the lantern needs repairs (Ibra et al., 2012). The cost of a solar power lantern is more expensive initially than fuel-based lighting, but the lanterns are a long-term investment, lasting for many years with no intervention (Bensch et al., 2017). While many organizations are working to electrify low-income regions or provide larger solar-power technology, introducing solar-powered lanterns is an inexpensive, and highly adaptable option for subsistence farmers (Grimm, 2016).

Helpful Organizations

Each of these organizations provides an avenue for implementing solar technology, with various degrees of information on how solar-powered lanterns could benefit individuals.

Millennium Villages Project describes itself as a “bottom-up” approach to provide low-cost intervention in developing country villages. One of its ongoing projects is selling solar-powered lanterns at reduced prices to market vendors, who can sell them back into their community https://www.un.org/esa/coordination/Alliance/Earth%20Institute%20-%20The%20Millennium%20Villages%20Project.htm

Lighting Africa, an innovation of the World Bank Group, provides off-grid solar products to households across Africa. https://www.lightingafrica.org/what-we-do/

Solar Aid, a not-for-profit group, focused on “ending darkness.” Emphasizing the power of solar lighting technology https://solar-aid.org/

Nokero Solar, a company focusing on replacing fuel-based lighting with solar light options. Nokero solar also features retailers in Uganda, along with authorized sellers in Ghana, Zimbabwe and Kenya https://www.nokero.com/

Light up the World is a Canadian international development organization dedicated to providing access to sustainable energy. https://lutw.org/

Websites such as Alibaba and DHgate provide wholesale options for solar powered lanterns for individuals to buy and sell in local markets: https://www.dhgate.com/wholesale/solar+lanterns.html & https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/solar-lantern.html

Projoy electric supplies repair parts for solar-powered technology, possibly opening an avenue for individuals to create businesses from selling repair parts on the local level: https://en.projoy-electric.com/

References

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