INSPECTION OF WAREHOUSES TO IMPROVE STORAGE AND MARKET ACCESS IN MAKUENI.

{WOTE}Tuesday, August 20, 2024

The Ministry of Trade and Investment, through the Warehouse Receipt System Council-Kenya (WRS), is set to embark on a pre-inspection exercise of warehouses across Makueni County.

The initiative is designed to support local grain farmers by ensuring that storage facilities meet the necessary standards for accreditation.

The plan was discussed during a meeting held on Tuesday between WRS officials and Makueni County Executive Committee Members Dr. Sonia Nzilani (Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture, and Tourism) and Joyce Mutua (Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development).

The pre-inspection exercise will assess whether the warehouses are equipped to store grain under optimal conditions, a critical factor in securing WRS accreditation.

Dr. Sonia Nzilani said that establishing proper grain storage facilities is key to mitigating food security risks and stabilizing grain prices within the county.

The move is expected to significantly benefit local farmers by improving storage options and market access.

WRS officials are scheduled to inspect warehouses in several key locations, including Wote, Mukuyuni, Thange, Kibwezi, and Kilome.

In addition to the inspections, warehouse operators will receive training to enhance their understanding of storage requirements.

Warehouses that pass the inspection will receive accreditation certificates from the WRS Council. These accredited warehouses will then be authorized to issue legal documents to farmers, enabling them to use stored grain as collateral when seeking loans from financial institutions.