Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) in the Tamale Metro and Sagnarigu Municipality have been trained on the Ghana Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) project to help improve the operations of farmers in terms of access to market and credit.

They were taken through the concept of the WRS, how it is linked to the Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX), post-harvest handling, market information systems amongst others to equip them with knowledge and skills,to improve their operations and access to credit.

The WRS allows farmers to store their produce at approved warehouses during bumper harvest and sell it during lean season to attract good prices for their investment.

While the produce remains at the warehouse, the farmer is issued a receipt, which is recognised by accredited banks, and which can be used to access credit to continue production.

Farm produce kept at the warehouse is of high quality and therefore attracts competitive prices and as well guarantees traders and consumers high quality goods, which are also essential in promoting good health.

The WRS is an initiative of the International Finance Corporation/World Bank Group, and it is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.

Mr Iddris Nurudeen, an AEA from Tamale Metro, who participated in the two-day training, praised the WRS saying it would help to increase agricultural productivity while significantly improving incomes of farmers in the country.

Mr Nurudeen said some of the farmers had contracts with some institutions to supply them produce but lacked the capacity to deliver saying, he would train them on the WRS to improve their operations to meet the demands of their customers.

Madam Dennice Amponsah noted the WRS proved that quality produce earned high prices would train farmers on how to maintain quality in their operations to increase their income.

Meanwhile, about 30 journalists drawn from across the country have also been trained on the WRS as part of stakeholder sensitisation efforts to ensure the success of WRS for improved agricultural productivity in the country.

The two-day training was held over the weekend in Kumasi by the Trans-Media Network with support from the International Finance Corporation/World Bank Group.