State launches digital warehouse receipt platform to reform agricultural trade

ROSELYNE KAVOO-PCO

Kenya, in a bid to modernize agricultural commodity trade has launched the Electronic Warehouse Receipt System Central Registry (eWRSCR) to cut post-harvest losses, boost farmer incomes and unlock access to financing.

The Warehouse Receipt System Council (WRSC), in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA) and with funding support from the British High Commission in Kenya, unveiled the platform in Nairobi.

The eWRS-CR automates, centralizes, and manages warehouse receipts issued under the Warehouse Receipt System, enhancing transparency, traceability, and accountability across the agricultural value chain.

Speaking at the launch, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Industry, Dr. Juma Mukhwana, described the platform as a confidence-building intervention that will catalyze participation across the agricultural sector.

“The e-WRS Central Registry is not merely a technology platform; it is a confidence-building intervention designed to catalyse participation across the agricultural value chain,” he said.

“By enhancing transparency, strengthening trust and enabling access to finance, this system empowers farmers, attracts private sector investment, and contributes to Kenya’s broader economic transformation,” said Dr. Mukhwana.

He emphasized that the initiative aligns with Kenya Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), while positioning the country to leverage regional and global trade opportunities under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Dr. Mukhwana reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that warehouses developed under the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) meet certification and licensing requirements, strengthening linkages within the value chain and guaranteeing manufacturers consistent access to quality raw materials.

Agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy, with smallholder farmers contributing more than 75 percent of national output.

Yet the sector faces persistent challenges: less than 5 percent of bank lending is directed to agriculture, while post-harvest losses for some commodities reach 30–40 percent, eroding farmer incomes and undermining food security.

The eWRS-CR seeks to address these gaps by allowing farmers and commodity owners to safely store produce in certified warehouses and receive electronic receipts as proof of ownership. 

These receipts can be used as collateral to access financing, enabling farmers to meet immediate needs without resorting to distress sales.

The system also strengthens structured trade, improves price discovery, and enhances market efficiency.

WRSC Chairman Patrick Mbogo hailed the launch as a defining moment in Kenya’s agricultural transformation.

“This platform strengthens trust among market participants, enhances commodity security, and unlocks access to financing for farmers and agribusinesses,” he said.

“It lays a firm foundation for structured agricultural trade and positions Kenya as a regional leader in agricultural market innovation,” he said.

WRSC Acting CEO and Registrar, Lucy Komen, highlighted the growing role of the private sector in warehouse operations.

“Structured market systems enable farmers to focus on production while ensuring their commodities are safely stored, financed, and traded within a secure marketplace,” she said.

“We encourage both public and private sector players to adopt this solution to strengthen Kenya’s agricultural value chains,” she said.

Trade Mark Africa Country Director, Lilian Mwai, underscored the platform’s role in regional trade facilitation.

“By improving traceability and enabling access to finance, this platform empowers farmers and agribusinesses to compete more effectively in domestic and regional trade.

“Systems like the Electronic Warehouse Receipt platform ensure that commodities are traceable, trusted and trade-ready from the moment they enter the value chain,” she noted.

Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director at the British High Commission in Kenya, Diana Dalton, reaffirmed the UK’s support for Kenya’s agricultural modernization agenda.

“Not only does this system put more money into farmers’ pockets, but it also allows produce like maize to be used as collateral for short-term loans.

"The renewed Strategic Partnership between Kenya and the UK is driving modernization for businesses of all sizes, adding crucial value to produce before export,” Dalton said.

The launch marks Kenya’s transition from pilot phase to nationwide adoption of a structured and digitized Warehouse Receipt System.

The eWRS-CR has already been tested end-to-end and is fully operational, with 114 warehouse receipts covering nearly 600,000 kilograms of commodities registered.