OSWC

The Odisha State Warehousing Corporation (OSWC) was set up in 1958 under the Agricultural Produce (Development and Warehousing) Corporations Act, 1956 which was a Central Act. The Corporation was subsequently brought under the purview of the Warehousing Corporations Act, 1962 – also a Central Act - by virtue of which the earlier Act was repealed.

This is the only Public Sector Undertaking under the Cooperation Department and provides infrastructure for storage of foodgrains and fertilizers and pesticides through its warehouses and godowns located in different parts of the State.

1. Functions The Warehousing Corporations Act, 1962 lays down the following functions for a State Warehousing Corporation.

• To acquire and build godowns and warehouses at such places in the State, as it may, after consultation with the Central Warehousing Corporation determine;
• To run warehouses in the State for the storage of agricultural produce, seeds, manures, fertilizers, agricultural implements and notified commodities;
• To arrange facilities for transport of agricultural produce, seeds, manures, fertilizers, agricultural implements and notified commodities to and from warehouses;
• To act as an agent of the Central Warehousing Corporation or of the Government for the purpose of the purchase, sale, storage and distribution of agricultural produce, seeds, manures, fertilizers, agricultural implements and notified commodities;
• To enter into, with the previous approval of the State Government, joint ventures with the Central Warehousing Corporation; and
• To carry out such other functions as may be prescribed.

2. Share capital base

The authorized share capital of the OSWC is Rs.360.00 lakhs of which Rs.180.00 lakhs (50%) is the paid up share capital of the State Government and Rs.180.00 lakhs (50%) is the paid up share capital of the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC). Contribution to the share capital was last made by the State Government in the year 2000-01 and by the CWC in the year 2001-02.

3. Storage capacity

The Odisha State Warehousing Corporation is now operating 60 warehouses in 28 districts (except Deogarh and Dhenkanal) of the State having a total capacity of 4,15,897 MT as on 30th Sept., 2010 (owned capacity  3,95,050 MT and hired capacity 20,847 MT).

4. Overall Capacity utilization of the Corporation.

The average storage capacity and its utilisation for the preceding two yers and current year (upto Sept., 10) is furnished below: