Stakeholder roles in storage distribution across Karnataka's regions

Abstract

Agricultural commodities are critical to India’s economy, contributing significantly to GDP and rural livelihoods. Efficient storage facilities are essential for reducing post-harvest losses and supporting diverse stakeholders. The study analyzed the utilization of Karnataka State Warehousing Corporation (KSWC) facilities by various stakeholders, including agencies, farmers, and traders, from 2013 to 2024. The data were collected from seven regional warehouses of KSWC across Karnataka, focusing on storage capacities, depositor types, and commodities stored. The study examined stakeholder-specific trends in storage utilization and their contributions to the total capacity. The results revealed that, agencies stored 998,522 MTs (75.50% of the total), with commodities like ragi, fertilizers, and manures dominating their portfolio. Farmers stored 71,939 MTs (5.20%), primarily paddy (38.50%), while traders stored 69,639 MTs (5.10%), focusing on paddy (25.50%) and bengal gram (19.61%). Agencies recoded the highest growth rate per annum in storage utilization, followed by traders and farmers. Correlation analysis indicated a strong relationship between agencies and overall storage capacity. Variability in storage patterns was highest for agencies and lowest for farmers. The agencies utilized the majority of storage facilities, while farmer access remained limited. Enhanced awareness, post-harvest training, and targeted subsidies could improve utilization, reducing distress sales.