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The WRSC team led by Chairperson Madam Felicity Biriri and Ag. CEO Ms. Lucy Komen, recently carried out a three-day sensitization and pre-inspection mission in Meru County. The initiative aimed at strengthening farmer access to structured markets, affordable financing, and modern storage infrastructure, bringing together farmers, farmer groups, community leaders, and government officials in a collective effort to accelerate the adoption of the WRS.
The mission commenced in Igembe South with a sensitization forum for the Nyambene Women Fellowship Council. Commending the group for their milestones, Madam Biriri encouraged members to apply the same determination in agriculture by embracing WRS. She noted that the system offers practical solutions to challenges in post-harvest handling, access to structured markets, and financing. In line with this, the WRSC team conducted a pre-inspection of the MCK Demonstration Farm Ndoleli store, which, once certified, will provide the women’s council with access to secure storage, affordable credit, and structured market opportunities.
In partnership with the Kenya National Multicommodities Exchange (KOMEX), the WRSC delegation also held discussions with chairpersons of 45 farmer community-based organizations representing over 40,000 small and medium-scale farmers. The sensitization was organized in collaboration with Tigania West Constituency, through Ms. Irene Mukiri. The engagements highlighted how WRS can help reduce post-harvest losses, improve credit access, and link farmers to structured markets. Farmer leaders were introduced to commodity trading through KOMEX, highlighting its role in price discovery, secure transactions, and safeguarding farmers against buyer defaults.
The team further conducted pre-inspections of Kibuleni and Mbeu warehouses, which are nearing completion at 89% and 92% respectively. Each facility will provide a storage capacity of approximately 63,000 (50kg) bags and is expected to serve as a modern storage hub for the region. Once operational, the warehouses will also act as model facilities for benchmarking best practices in structured storage. Progress was also reviewed on the certification of New-KPCU Meru and the re-certification of NCPB Meru Warehouse #05, both of which are critical to strengthening structured storage in the county.
To conclude the series of activities, the delegation paid a courtesy call to the Office of the County Commissioner of Meru. The discussions focused on aligning efforts to intensify sensitization and fast-track the rollout of WRS across the county, marking an important step in promoting structured trade and improving livelihoods for farmers in the region.