Warehouse Receipt System Council-Kenya

Kitise Farmers Cooperative Society, an ambitious enterprise of over 60 self-help groups in Kitise/Kithuki Ward, Makueni County, is engaged in farming pulses, pasture, and dairy. With plans to expand into cattle rearing, agricultural production, and agro-marketing, warehousing has been key to their success. They've developed warehouse facilities and are eager to meet WRS certification criteria, which would greatly benefit their members and the local community. The management is ready, and the WRS Council is committed to supporting them.

IFC Africa Government of Makueni County Dr. Sonnia Nzilani Cereal Growers Association

Today, we are sensitizing Makueni-based financial institutions, off-takers, millers, and traders on Warehouse Receipt Financing (WRF). In collaboration with Africa, the WRS Council is onboarding financial institutions to develop WRF products.
Warehouse Receipt Financing (WRF) essentially is a short term loan given to a depositor with the Warehouse Receipt as collateral.
Today's capacity building focuses on enhancing lenders' understanding of WRF and enabling their integration into the WRS for full operationalization. Discussions cover WRS functionality, its working principles, and the Operational Law.
Osodo Joe of the WRS Council highlighted that WRS benefits not just farmers but also financiers, millers, and aggregators, offering stable prices and year-round availability of quality produce.

Key Facts:
✅The WRS Council has received approval to launch WRF soon.

✅Eight financial institutions have shown interest in developing WRF products.

IFC Africa Government of Makueni CountyCereal Growers Association Dr. Sonnia Nzilani

What an inspiring afternoon sensitizing farmers at the Muthoonzwe Cooperative, Thange Ward, Makueni. Members are resilient and organized in farming and aggregating green grams and sorghum. Their main issue is lack of access to timely market information, for which WRS is a solution. We wish them well in their journey towards WRS certification.

Government of Makueni County IFC Africa Cereal Growers Association

The WRS training for Makueni County officials has officially begun! County reps for trade, marketing, industries, and agriculture are learning about the benefits of WRS, how to onboard and certify warehouses, and the importance of compliance with national standards to ensure food safety and quality.

WRS reps Fredrick Wangaha and Leonard Mwashuma highlighted how WRS ensures year-round supply, stable prices, and quality guarantees, emphasizing WRS Council’s regulatory role. Safety Consultant Kevin Manyara explained the importance of careful food handling to prevent contamination and spoilage, ensuring public health.

Government of Makueni County IFC Africa Cereal Growers Association

The Council conducted a pre-inspection exercise at the NCPB Wote Warehouse. The warehouse has made impressive progress toward certification under the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS). With a few adjustments, it is well on its way to fulfilling the criteria for licensing.
The WRS Council,Government of Makueni County and IFC Africa together with Cereal Growers Association remain committed to providing the necessary support to ensure successful certification.

Makueni WRS sensitization has kicked off with a courtesy call to Makueni County Government, meeting Joyce Mutua – CECM Agriculture, and Dr Sonnia Nzilani – CECM Trade

Makueni sensitization program includes pre-inspection visits to warehouses including NCPB Wote, and farmer cooperatives in Thange Ward, Kitise and Mbooni. Plus sensitization of financial institutions, Off-takers/ Traders.

Makueni grows fruits and pulses which require warehouse storage. Produce includes green grams, pigeon peas, cowpeas, beans, mangoes and citruses. Pest attacks and price fluctuation are key challenges faced. Storage of fruit puree is urgently needed.

Stakeholders are exploring how WRS can solve these issues.

IFC - International Finance Corporation Government of Makueni County Cereal Growers Association

The Council today hosted Irrigation Authority, Department for Trade , Department for Irrigation, and for collaboration meeting.
The discussions targeted;
✅Value chains under National Irrigation Authority,
✅Reviewed harvest statistics,
✅ Discussed available warehouse storage solutions in lower Nyanza
✅ identified collaboration opportunities between our organizations.
Exciting developments ahead as we strengthen our collective impact on the commodity sector

Let's engage, we would love to hear from you.

At WRSC, we recognize partnerships for the greater benefit of the farmer!

Today, the council led by the CEO Madam Lucy Komen and IFC- WBG led by Taneem Ahad, Project leader KWRS engaged the The Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) team chaired by the Chairperson Mr. James Mureu on the potential partnership on;

✅Certification of MSEA-built cold storage facilities that is, Okalou cold storage facility in Nyandarua County, Ngusishi cold storage facility in Meru County and Kiamok**a cold storage facility in Kisii County;

✅Capacity building and training stakeholders on the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) concept.

Certification of these facilities will ensure post-harvest losses are reduced, promotion of food safety and security through provision of quality storage facilities, structured markets and access to affordable financing for the agricultural sector.

The meeting was also attended by The Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) director Felix Chege and CEO/Director General Henry Mwenda senior management staff, Nelson Mulwa - WRSC and IFC consultants on KWRS

Warehouse Receipt System Council-Kenya held discussions with the the County Government of Uasin Gishu County. on Maize aggregation and Warehousing ahead of the harvest season. Ag. CEO/Registrar WRSC Lucy Komen, and WRSC Certification and Compliance, Leornard Mwashuma represented the Council, while the County team was led by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Mr. Edward Sawe, the team included Agriculture Chief Officer, Mr Elphas Kesio, Chief Officer for Cooperatives Ruth Samoei who was accompanied by Cooperative Commissioner Ms. Roselyne Rae. They expressed optimism about the initiative, remarking that it represents a long-awaited solution for small-scale farmers. The Council identified 5 warehouses to start with which include 1 privately owned warehouse Agri-Bora store No.8, NCPB
Eldoret, NCPB Moi's Bridge and two aggregation centers owned by farmer cooperative societies.
This is also inline with the County's plan to establish a cooperative in each ward through the Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

“The establishment of cooperatives is essential for enhancing the farming sector. They provide a structured way for farmers to come together, pool resources, and market their produce more effectively,” Mr. Sawe stated.

The Ag. CEO Warehouse Receipt System Council (WRSC) Komen and The CEO Kenya National Farmers Federation (KENAFF) Dr. Daniel Mwendah M'Mailutha today led their teams in signing a partnership MOU which seeks to complement each other's mandate majorly on enhancing sensitization, awareness creation, training and capacity building of farmers and relevant stakeholders. The Council seeks to onboard more than 1 Million farmers represented by KENAFF (sauti ya mkulima) in ensuring a:
✅Structured Agricultural commodity trading under WRS;
✅Market access and linkages;
✅Event participation and promotion of investments;
✅Unlocking public private partnerships and other areas of mutual interest.
This initiative will enhance awareness of the WRS concept among Farmers and other stakeholders with a view to ensure reduction of post-harvest losses and curb value chain inefficiencies through professional management of agricultural commodities by licenced warehouse operators.

Exciting news!!!The Council held a consultative meeting with IFDC, the main agendum was on partnership to onboarding the potato value chain into the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS). IFDC has strengthened production technologies including enhancing soil health, this results to increased crop harvest. A production success would normally be a trade challenge. This partnership would therefore enhance market systems through structured trade, access to quality facilities and access to market. The Council has also partnered with various Financial Institutions where farmers can access credit facilities, using the Warehouse Receipt as Collateral

Join the conversation. Let’s talk inclusivity, inclusivity, inclusivity.

Warehouse Receipt Systems (WRS) is glad to actively promote the engagement Cooperatives in onboarding WRS and youth involvement.

We held a Successful Multi-Agency Consultative Meeting at the President’s Economic Transformation Secretariat’s offices. The deliberations focused on enhancing the operationalization of the Warehouse Receipt Systems (WRS) for the upcoming harvest season. Key points included certification and licensing of cooperative-owned warehouses, youth involvement in commodity aggregation, trading warehouse receipts through KOMEX, and identifying pilot areas for launch by the President.

These efforts aim to reduce
✅ post-harvest losses
✅ensure access to quality
✅storage facilities, enhance food security
✅ structure agricultural trade.

Warehouse Receipt System Council-Kenya

𝐖𝐑𝐒 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨!

Our team proudly showcased the innovative Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) concept, enlightening farmer groups on its incredible benefits:

✅ Reduction of Post-Harvest Losses
✅ Enhanced Market Access
✅ Affordable Financing Options
✅ Climate-Smart Technologies & Practices

Together, we're paving the way for sustainable food systems and a brighter future for agriculture!

The Council is Exhibition at the KALRO Katumani, Machakos County under the Theme Climate Smart Technologies Practices for Sustainable Food Systems.
Machakos County Government

Warehouse Receipt System Council-Kenya will be exhibiting at the upcoming EAGC- Eastern Africa Grain Council Expo in Machakos County slated for 10th July, 2024. Farmers are invited to our booth to have an indepth engagement that can boost the in the country!

We're committed to engage our farmers on the benefits of embracing . A virtual sensitization program for KIRINYAGA COFFEE FARMERS has been scheduled for 3rd July, 2024.

We want to make sure your complaints are heard!

If you have any grievances or concerns that you'd like to bring to our attention, please email us at [email protected].

We are here to assist you and address your issues. Let your voice be heard.

Where are the quality potatoes? We have the market. These are the answers posed by off-takers and traders in Nyandarua County!

IFC Africa Micro and Small Enterprises Authority - MSEA Cereal Growers Association

Building sustainable partnerships with HelloTractor for the benefit of the farmer.

The Council joins Nyandarua County’s network of agriculture officers and development partners to sensitize Cooperative farmers and Kagunda Cooperative farmers on post-harvest management, promoting commodity aggregation, and facilitating warehouse onboarding to the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS). Together, we are making strides in agricultural excellence!

and Small Enterprises Authority - MSEA

The uptake and desire to onboard the system by in Nyandarua County cannot be underestimated. They are raring to go!

Nyandarua County Agriculture, Trade and Cooperatives committee MCAs sensitized on the WRS benefits which will enhance development of policies that foster solutions to market challenges and access to quality storage facilities in the County.

Sensitization of Nyandarua County staff from Agriculture, Trade and cooperatives departments on the concept and it's benefits to potato value chain smallholder farmers.
.