Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does AGMARK do
AGMARK (Agricultural Market Development Trust) is a Kenyan non-profit social enterprise that strengthens agricultural markets across Eastern and Southern Africa. Founded in 2004, AGMARK trains agro-dealers, links smallholder farmers to inputs and output markets, and builds structured cross-border grain trade systems. The organisation has trained over 12,000 agro-dealers and supported 2.4 million smallholder farmers across 18 countries.
2. Which countries does AGMARK operate in?
AGMARK is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya and operates across Eastern and Southern Africa. Active and past program countries include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Ghana. Current programs are concentrated along East African cross-border trade corridors at Busia, Namanga, Tunduma/Nakonde, and Kasumulu.
3. What is the Hub and Spoke Model?
The Hub and Spoke Model is an agro-dealer distribution structure developed by AGMARK in partnership with the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP). Larger “hub” agro-dealers invest in warehousing, transport, and supplier relationships, then service smaller “spoke” retailers across rural circuits. This solves the last-mile distribution gap that keeps quality inputs out of reach for remote smallholder farmers and outlasts individual donor-funded projects.
4. Who funds AGMARK?
AGMARK has implemented programs funded by USAID, the World Food Program, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the European Union, the Rockefeller Foundation, the African Development Bank, COMESA, AFAP, Land O’Lakes, IFDC, FAO, and DFID. Current major projects include the EU- and IFAD-funded ISLA initiative and AGRA-funded cross-border trade programs.
5. How does AGMARK work with smallholder farmers?
AGMARK works through its trained agro-dealer network rather than directly with individual farmers. Agro-dealers deliver inputs, technical advice, and market linkages year-round at the village level long after project cycles end. Independent evaluation found that 60–90% of farmers in AGMARK programs adopt new technologies, compared with around 40% in conventional development programs.
6. What is a Cross-Border Trade Association (CBTA)?
A Cross-Border Trade Association is a formal group of grain traders operating at an East African border crossing, organized and trained by AGMARK with AGRA support. CBTAs equip members, predominantly women and youth, with skills in grain standards, trade documentation, negotiation, and post-harvest management. AGMARK has supported nine CBTAs to date, training over 800 traders and facilitating over USD 4 million in documented cross-border grain trade.
7. How can my organization partner with AGMARK?
AGMARK welcomes partnerships with institutional funders, bilateral agencies, government counterparts, and co-implementing organizations working on agricultural market systems, food security, or cross-border trade. Initial inquiries can be directed to the Nairobi office via the Contact page. AGMARK typically engages in co-designed multi-year programs and brings 22 years of in-market experience, a trained agro-dealer network, and established field teams across the ESA region.
8. Where can I find AGMARK's research and impact data?
AGMARK publishes a monthly Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Brownbag Digest covering field outcomes from active projects, available on the Resources page. Institutional Capacity Assessments and project-specific reports are also available there. For specific data requests, including beneficiary numbers, technology adoption rates, or trade volumes by corridor, contact the M&E team directly.
Partner with Us
Join hands with AGMARK to empower farmers, enhance food security, and drive sustainable agricultural development across Africa. Together, we can create lasting impact by bridging gaps in farming technologies, markets, and community growth.