Farm Related Services via Mobile Phones in India – A Case of Micro-Warehousing For Farmers in Bihar
Farm Related Services via Mobile Phones in India – A Case of Micro-Warehousing For Farmers in Bihar
Authors : Prageetha G Raju
Agriculture continues to be at the centre of Indian economy. Though it is the primary
source of livelihood for almost 58 percent of Indian population, it is plagued by several
issues. To elaborate – erratic monsoon, availability of quality inputs, pest outbreaks,
inadequate farm equipment, lack of access to fair priced credit and marketing challenges
due to multiple intermediaries are some of the challenges facing the Indian farmer.
Notable among the various challenges is, the lack of adequate warehousing services and
facilities. For instance, 260 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of food grains per annum are
produced in India, but, the total storage capacity is mere 115 MMT. The State and Central
Warehousing Corporations together account for 85 MMT of warehousing capacity while
the private sector provides another 30 MMT. Small and marginal farmer seldom use these
facilities, they sell off their surplus immediately and often at distressing prices due to lack
of storage facilities.
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