Warehousing

Warehousing is quite often thought of just storing and transporting goods from one place to another. Not really. It is something more than that. It can help build third world economies to a great extent. Now look at one great problem that plagues third world countries. Lack of proper storage for agricultural commodities! Agricultural produces are highly perishable and require special cold storage warehousing and cold storage transportation to take them to market.

 

Warehousing in India with respect to agricultural produce storing has still not taken off while it should have, given its large population and an economy largely based on agriculture. As a matter of fact Agricultural Finance Sub-Committee and the Rural Banking Enquiry Committee constituted before 50 years emphasized that warehousing in India is a pre-requisite for banking penetration. But unfortunately even after half a century this simple thought of setting up cold storage and modern warehousing has not been scaled up.

 

The greatest advantages of having agricultural warehouses are

 

1)       The huge wastages of agricultural products that occur due to improper storage can be avoided and can result in better returns for farmers.

 

2)       A successful implementation of cold storage and warehousing in rural hubs can facilitate agricultural product pricing in the future by government agencies.

 

3)       The rising food prices and inflation can be contained to some extent owing to better management of food resource. This factor assumes greater significance owing to an unprecedented increase in inflation.

 

Warehouse Chennai can be implemented in cities like Chennai, all district capitals, Kodaikanal, Oddanchatram (which has the largest vegetable wholesale market in Tamil Nadu). Warehouse India can be implemented in all State capitals, Nagpur, Other town where agricultural products are easily procured, stored and can be transported to different parts of the country.

 

In my opinion a robust warehousing plan for rural India helps true economic development. Any development that is inclusive and kind of embraces all players in the society creates a more stable society. So let us contribute to our economy by creating large, much needed warehouses.