GrainMate: Grain Moisture Meter

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

The Grain Moisture Meter is a tool that helps African farmers measure how much water is in their grains accurately. This is important because too much moisture can lead to mold and other problems. This new technology is affordable and easy to use, helping farmers save their crops and avoid losses.

This technology is pre-validated.

8•7

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

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

Problem

Post-harvest losses: Farmers lose grains because they don't dry them well after harvesting.
Difficulty measuring moisture: It's hard for farmers to check if their grains are dry enough before putting them in storage.
Dependence on Old Methods: Instead of using better tools, farmers rely on old and not very good methods to measure grain dryness.

Solution

GrainMate measures moisture: GrainMate measures how much moisture is in the grains, whether during or after drying.
Reducing losses: It helps farmers keep track of moisture levels, preventing losses after harvesting.
Accessible and easy-to-use tool: GrainMate is a tool that is easy to get and simple to use, especially helpful for farmers in sub-Saharan Africa where losing grains after harvest happens often.

Key points to design your project

The GrainMate Moisture Meter stands out as a tool addressing challenges in traditional grain moisture measurement. It not only enhances efficiency in agriculture but also aligns with global sustainability goals, promoting responsible farming practices and ensuring a more resilient and equitable future for grain post harvest management.

To incorporate this technology into your project adhere to the following guidelines:

Assess the quantity of GrainMate Moisture Meters required for your project, taking into account a technology cost ranging from USD 45-60 per device.
Consider the technology's location (Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Zimbabwe) and factor in the delivery cost to the project site, including potential expenses related to import clearance and duties.

Training is crucial for effective utilization. Enlist a team of trainers to provide comprehensive training and post-training support during the implementation of the technology. Include the associated costs in your project plan.

Communication support for the technology should be developed (flyers, videos, radio broadcasts, etc.)

To implement the technology in your country, you could collaborate with agricultural development institutes and agro-dealers.

Cost: $$$ 45—60 USD

Price for resellers and users

ROI: $$$ 90 %

Post-harvest losses reduced

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 14 August 2024