Grain council moots online platform to link farmers to market

Cereal growers stand to win big after the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) launched a new online trading platform that seeks to give small-holder farmers more value from their yields.

The G-Soko platform, built by a local technology company, Virtual City, allows farmers sell their produce directly to bidders using a competitive and transparent pricing formula. “This new portal eliminates middlemen and ensures that farmers get the most value from their produce by marketing it to a network of buyers,” stated EAGC Executive Director Gerald Masila. Mr Masila said the platform will increase food production and enhance food security by accurately matching the supply and demand needs in the East African market. “Right now, there is an urgency to expand regional food trade due to the exponential growth of staple food imports,” he said.