GrainMate: Grain Moisture Meter

Control the moisture content of grains and reduce post-harvest losses.

The Grain Moisture Meter is a portable, easy-to-use device that accurately measures moisture levels in grains, helping prevent spoilage and quality loss. For the private sector, including warehouse operators, grain traders, and processors, this tool ensures better storage, fair pricing, and compliance with quality standards. Its affordability and precision make it a valuable investment, improving efficiency and reducing financial losses across the grain supply chain.

This technology is pre-validated.

8•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 8/9; level of use 7/9

Cost: $$$ 45—60 USD

Price for resellers and users

ROI: $$$ 90 %

Post-harvest losses reduced

Problem

Inaccurate Moisture Assessment: Grain traders, processors, and warehouse operators often face difficulties in assessing grain moisture accurately, leading to quality loss and spoilage.
Inaccurate traditional methods: Farmers rely on methods like biting or tossing grains, which are inconsistent and unreliable.
Limited access to affordable moisture measurement tools: Many farmers in sub-Saharan Africa cannot afford or find reliable grain moisture meters.
High risk of mold growth: Without proper moisture control, grains exceeding 13.5% moisture easily develop mold.
Negative impact on poultry farming: Feeding birds with high-moisture grains reduces egg production and increases disease and mortality rates.

Solution

Eliminates Guesswork: The moisture meter replaces unreliable traditional methods like biting or tossing grains, allowing farmers to make informed storage decisions.
Improves Accessibility: As an affordable –60 USD– and easy-to-use tool, it is accessible to a wide range of farmers.
Reduces Grain Losses: Farmers can use the device to measure accurately moisture levels and dry grains properly, preventing post-harvest losses and ensuring national food security.
Enhances National Planning and Advisory: Reliable moisture data collected from farmers can help governments and agricultural agencies monitor grain quality, predict storage risks, and design better food security policies.

Key points to design your business plan

This technology is beneficial for two main groups: resellers and end users (farmers).

For resellers

Promoting the GrainMate Moisture Meter technology offers more than just a product. It permits good quality grain in the market, promoting food security and well being. To thrive in this market:

Identify sources for bulk acquisition of the GrainMate Moisture Meter knowing that it is available in Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Zimbabwe.
Optimize transportation methods and explore suitable storage facilities.
The cost of the tool ranges from USD 45-60 per device.

Your potential target customers include small local retailers, development projects, farmers, and cooperatives or associations of farmers.

For users

Using GrainMate Moisture Meter technology is a sustainable solution to reduced grain post-harvest losses. It enhances efficiency in moisture measurement and promotes responsible farming practices.

To use this technology in your business:

Assess the GrainMate Moisture, considering a cost range of USD 45-60 per device. Consider the technology's location (Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Zimbabwe) and include delivery costs,
Training is crucial for effective utilization; You can find the mode of operation on the notice of the tool or in the tech profile.

Your main partener is retailers or agro-dealers.

You need to estimate the profit realized with the use of the product.

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive high

Under 18: Positive high

Women: Positive high

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Carbon footprint: Same amount of carbon released

Environmental health: Does not improve environmental health

Soil quality: Does not affect soil health and fertility

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	Tested	–Not adopted
Malawi	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	–Not adopted
Zimbabwe	–No ongoing testing	Tested	–Not adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 3: good health and well-being

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

GrainMate Components: GrainMate is composed of a handheld reader and a probe. The probe, housing the sensor, connects to the reader through a USB cable.
Moisture Measurement Process: To obtain a moisture measurement, the user inserts the probe into a sample of grain, selects the grain type, and presses the TEST button on the reader.
Type Selection on Reader: Users need to choose the grain type on the reader and then press the TEST button.
Data Processing: The device processes the collected data to determine the moisture content of the tested grain.
Background Test: The moisture test runs in the background, and after 2-3 minutes, the moisture content is displayed on the LCD screen.

Last updated on 20 March 2025