A bold new initiative is reshaping how grain is traded across East Africa. The Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) has launched farmer-run “Grain Trade Business Hubs,” or G-Hubs, designed to empower smallholder farmers and transform the regional grain value chain.
Announced during an agribusiness expo hosted by the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), the hubs are being rolled out in partnership with Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and the DANIDA Green Business Partnerships (DGBP).
At the heart of the G-Hub model is collective action. By organizing farmers into cooperatives and giving them ownership of their supply chain, the EAGC believes the hubs will drive both profitability and sustainability.
“These hubs are a game-changer,” said Gerald Makau Masila, EAGC’s Chief Executive Officer. “They address the critical pain points—market access, post-harvest losses, and high input costs—while enhancing farmers’ voices in the trade process.”
Powered by the Gsoko Digital Marketplace
A key innovation backing the G-Hubs is Gsoko, EAGC’s digital trading platform. It acts as a real-time marketplace connecting farmers directly with premium buyers across the region and beyond.
Farmers listing grain through their local G-Hub will have it aggregated and quality-checked before being posted to Gsoko’s weekly trade catalog.
Verified buyers can browse commodities, submit offers, and negotiate contracts. Deals are sealed securely through an EAGC-managed settlement account.
This system streamlines trade, reduces exploitation, and improves transparency—a major boost for farmers who have long faced unfair market dynamics.
Access to Inputs, Storage, and Finance
Beyond market connections, the hubs offer farmers:
- Affordable inputs through pooled purchasing
- Modern storage facilities that cut post-harvest losses
- Advisory support on climate-smart farming
- Links to credit and financial institutions
Post-harvest losses, especially from poor storage, have long undermined grain quality and farmer profits.
With proper aggregation centers and trained personnel at each G-Hub, the initiative aims to drastically reduce spoilage and ensure food safety.
Masila emphasized that the EAGC will also provide training, market intelligence, and policy advocacy through its Regional Agricultural Trade Intelligence Network (RATIN) to further strengthen the hubs’ operations.
Backed by National Support
Uganda’s Minister for Agriculture, Frank Tumwebaze, reiterated the government’s support for research-based solutions like this.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sadik Kassim, deputy director of NARO, highlighted the urgency of building agricultural resilience as climate challenges intensify.
With East Africa’s grain market valued in the billions, the G-Hub initiative represents a strategic shift—putting power back into farmers’ hands. If scaled effectively, it could redefine how agricultural wealth is generated and shared across the region.
