Warehouse Receipt System Council-Kenya

The Council is proud to convene warehouse operators for a stakeholder engagement session on the WRSC Operations Manual and the transformative role of the Warehouse Receipt System in strengthening agricultural commodity markets in Nakuru county.

Led by the Chief Executive Officer Ms Lucy Komen, the session reinforced the importance of operational excellence in delivering efficient, compliant, and credible warehouse receipt services.
The engagement highlighted the role of the Warehouse Receipt System in promoting structured commodity trading, improving access to finance, reducing post-harvest losses, and enhancing market transparency.

Through such engagements, the Council continues to build stakeholder capacity and drive the adoption of structured market systems that enhance farmer confidence and agricultural competitiveness.

Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry - MITI - Kenya State Department for Trade Nakuru County Government - Official

The Council, in partnership with AgriBORA, continues to promote stakeholder participation in Kenya's structured agricultural markets through sustained engagement with farmers and cooperatives in Uasin Gishu County under the Warehouse Receipt System.

As part of this ongoing initiative, the Council sensitized 300 farmers drawn from the Kaptebee, Ngeny, Olare, Ainabkoi, and Cheptiret cooperatives on the opportunities and benefits offered by the WRS. The engagement enhanced farmers' understanding of commodity quality management, post-harvest handling, access to structured markets, and affordable financing.

The initiative demonstrates the Council's commitment to promoting a more efficient, transparent, and inclusive agricultural marketing system. By facilitating access to certified storage infrastructure, structured trading mechanisms, and financial services, the WRS empowers farmers to preserve the quality of their produce, optimize marketing decisions, leverage stored commodities to access credit, and realize improved returns from their agricultural enterprises.

Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry - MITI - Kenya State Department for Trade State Department for Investment Promotion-Kenya agriBORA County Government of Uasin Gishu

The Council participated in a sensitization and capacity-building programme organised by Kenya National Multi-Commodities Exchange (KOMEX) for agricultural value chain actors in Kwale County, aimed at advancing the adoption of the Warehouse Receipt System and strengthening structured agricultural markets. The engagement focused on five priority value chains, including cashew nuts, green grams, cassava, chilli, and tomatoes, which are earmarked for onboarding onto the WRS once the Kwale County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIPs) is operational.

The forum brought together over 120 participants, including County Government officials led by the CECM for Trade and Tourism, the Assistant County Commissioner, technical officers, and representatives from Nzombo Farmers’ Cooperative, Nyalani Farmers’ Cooperative, Kwale Pavi Cooperative, Kwale Cashewnuts Cooperative, Kwale Chilli Cooperative, and Magodi Cassava Community-Based Organization.

During the engagement, the Council sensitized participants on the benefits and opportunities presented by the WRS, including access to quality storage, improved post-harvest management, commodity-backed financing, and enhanced market access.

Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry - MITI - Kenya State Department for Trade State Department for Investment Promotion-Kenya

Building on ongoing engagements across the wheat-growing regions, the Council, led by CEO/Registrar Ms. Lucy Komen and alongside Cereal Millers Association (CMA) and the Cereal Growers Association (CGA), today met wheat aggregators in Narok County.

The forum provided an opportunity to discuss key challenges affecting the wheat value chain, including market access, price fluctuations, climate-related risks, and post-harvest handling, while exploring opportunities in structured trade towards improving market outcomes for farmers and aggregators.

Concurrently, Nangama Cereals Cooperative Society farmers in Melelo Ward, Narok County, received training from the team on post-harvest management to strengthen grain handling and reduce post-harvest losses.

Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry - MITI - Kenya State Department for Trade County Government of Narok Cereal Growers Association Cereal Millers Association

This harvest season, unlock the full value of your produce with the Warehouse Receipt System. Access certified storage, affordable financing, and structured markets for better returns.
Harvest Smart. Market Smart.

Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry - MITI - Kenya State Department for TradeState Department for Investment Promotion-KenyaWarehouse Receipt System Council-KenyaagriBORAHelloTractor

The Council, in collaboration with the Cereal Millers Association (CMA), the Cereal Growers Association (CGA), and Hello Tractor, today engaged wheat aggregators in Nakuru County to facilitate their onboarding into WRS ahead of the upcoming harvest season.

The engagement, the first in a series of sensitization and consultative forums across Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, and Narok counties, highlights the strategic role of aggregators in mobilizing wheat deposits, enhancing market efficiency, and driving the adoption of structured agricultural trade.

Concurrently, the Council conducted farmer training on post-harvest management at the Mauka WRS-certified warehouse, equipping farmers with practical skills to maintain grain quality, minimize post-harvest losses, and maximize returns through access to certified storage and structured markets.
Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry - MITI - Kenya State Department for Trade HelloTractor Cereal Millers Association @ Cereal Growers Association Nakuru County Government - Official County Government of Narok County Government of Uasin Gishu

Advancing cold chain infrastructure is critical to unlocking the full potential of Kenya's perishable commodity value chains. In this regard, the Council, led by CEO/Registrar Madam Lucy Komen, in collaboration with IFC, engaged Hanse Agrostore to explore investment in cold storage facilities for the Irish potato value chain under the Warehouse Receipt System. The proposed pilot in Nyandarua, Nakuru, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Meru counties is expected to strengthen market access, reduce post-harvest losses, and unlock financing in the sector.

The engagement was further reinforced by the participation of Africa Farmers Exchange (AFEX) CEO, Mr. Kiprop, who reiterated the Exchange's commitment to providing a structured marketplace for the value chain.

Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry - MITI - Kenya State Department for Trade State Department for Investment Promotion-Kenya IFC - International Finance Corporation IFC Africa

The Council today engaged Cold Solutions, a cold storage warehouse operator based in Tatu City, alongside representatives from the International Finance Corporation and Africa Exchange (AFEX), to advance the operationalization of the Warehouse Receipt System for perishable commodities.

The engagement highlighted key commitments to fast-track the certification of Cold Solutions under the WRS, establish end-to-end market linkages through commodity exchange and marketplace platforms, and explore investment opportunities to strengthen the cold chain and structured trading infrastructure.
The partners also agreed to collaborate on developing a functional ecosystem that connects storage, finance, and markets for perishable agricultural products.

Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry - MITI - Kenya State Department for Trade State Department for Investment Promotion-Kenya IFC - International Finance Corporation IFC Africa

The Warehouse Receipt System Council, in partnership with AgriBORA, has launched Phase II of the farmer sensitization and training program in Uasin Gishu County, advancing efforts to strengthen farmer participation in Kenya's structured agricultural markets.
Building on the successful engagement of farmer cooperative leaders in Phase I, the initiative is equipping farmers with practical knowledge on the Warehouse Receipt System, commodity quality management, post-harvest handling, access to structured markets, and innovative agricultural financing solutions.

The first session of the Phase II training, held in Bindura, Tulwet/Chuiyat Ward, Kesses Sub-County, brought together 200 farmers, demonstrating the increasing uptake of WRS as a means to reduce post-harvest losses, improve price discovery, and unlock better market opportunities.

By connecting farmers to certified storage, transparent trading mechanisms, and financial services, the WRS is transforming agricultural value chains, enabling producers to store, trade, and access credit against their commodities while maximizing returns.

Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry - MITI - Kenya State Department for Trade agriBORA County Government of Uasin Gishu

The Council today held a strategic engagement with Africa Farmers Exchange (AFEX) to explore a partnership aimed at promoting the uptake of the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS), enhancing market assurance and price stability, and encouraging investment in warehouse infrastructure.
The engagement marks an important step towards expanding commodity exchange and marketplace participation, a critical foundation for facilitating structured and efficient commodity trade.
Key discussions focused on AFEX's potential registration as a marketplace, prioritization of liquidity to support seamless settlements, and the identification of a certifiable warehouse under the WRS.
Through strengthened collaboration and the development of robust market infrastructure, such initiatives will be instrumental in deepening market access, improving price discovery, and creating a more efficient and transparent trading environment for commodity sector stakeholders.

Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry - MITI - Kenya State Department for Trade