Agriculture CS Peter Munya has urged grain farmers in Trans Nzoia to embrace the warehouse receipt system.
The CS said the programme has been initiated in other maize growing regions.
He said this will allow farmers to sell commodities when the prices are attractive and enable them to access credit facilities while the receipt acts as collateral.
“The challenges our farmers have been facing after harvesting crops will be solved by the system we are launching in Kitale,” Munya said.
“It will help in modernising and enhancing the efficiency of agricultural marketing systems that will enable farmers to store commodities.”
The CS spoke during the launch of the national warehouse receipt system at the Kitale National Cereals and Produce Board depot.
“The government has constructed warehouses in all counties to enable farmers to store their grains through warehouse receipt system,” he said.
“The programme targets the use of certified private warehouses and NCPB for easy accessibility by farmers.”
The Warehouse Receipt System council chairperson Jane Ngige said the council, is a new parastatal that is within the Ministry of Agriculture.
She said the council has been vested with structuring grain trade in Trans Nzoia, having been identified by the Warehouse Receipt Council as one of the first implementers.
Ngige said a technical team will roll out training programmes for farmers.
Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba said the system will help flush out cartels that had impoverished farmers.
Kenya Seed Company managing director Fred Oloibe said the programme, which targets the use of certified private warehouses and NCPB for easy accessibility by farmers, will help farmers get collateral to do business.
He asked farmers to purchase certified seed from the Kenya Seed Stockists.
“Farmers should not buy uncertified seeds from brokers because we have enough in our depots as the planting season starts,” he said.
Munya was accompanied Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi, Moiben MP Silas Tiren, Trans Nzoia woman rep Janet Nangabo, NCPB chairman Joseph Kimote, EAGC boss Gerald Masila, NCPB chairman Mutea Iringo and KFA director Kipkorir Menjo.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
