Central Warehousing Corporation was established in 1957. The available storage capacity of Central Warehousing Corporation is 11.17million tonnes and with the operation through 464 warehousing : centers across the country (as on 30th September, 2017).
Functions of Central Warehousing Corporation
(i) To provide agency services for scientific storage of agricultural produce, seeds, manures fertilizers, agricultural implements and other notified commodities.
(ii) To issue a negotiable warehouse receipt for procuring credit to the owners of goods.
(iii) To preserve the produce deposited with care and protect against insects and various pests and deterioration due to moisture and dampness.
(iv) To act as an agent of the government for the purchase and sale, storage and distribution of specified commodities and transport to and from warehouse.
(v) To reduce the cost of storage and facilitate the marketing of produce through proper grading.

India is an agrarian country but the importance of warehousing was not felt till 1950. Agriculture contributes 16 percent of the overall GDP and accounts for employment of approximately 52 percent of the Indian population. It is estimated that more than 40 percent of our agricultural productions wasted due to poor storage facilities.
On the recommendation of the All India Rural Credit Survey Committee, the Agricultural Produce (Development and warehousing) Corporation Act enacted in 1956, authorised the Government to setup National Co-operative Development and Warehousing Board to develop agricultural Co-operatives and warehousing.

The drawbacks of warehousing are:
(i) There are no adequate transport facilities between the place of production and warehouses.
(ii) Lack of sufficient storage facilities for different commodities such as perishable and non-perishable commodities.
(iii) Complicated formalities are to be fulfilled at the warehouses. The illiterate and innocent farmers are not able to cope with these procedures.
(iv) Complicated process of Barcode technology can reduce the storing of goods by some producers.
(v) Unavoidable delay for obtaining financial assistance may cause loss to the owner of goods.

When goods are imported, customs duties have to be paid on them, otherwise these cannot be removed from the Docks. Goods stored in these warehouses are said to be in 'Bond'. So, the warehouses which are used for storing imported goods before payment of custom duties are called 'Bonded Warehouses'. If these warehouses are owned by the government then custom authorities have direct control over the warehouses. The owner of the goods are allowed to inspect, bottle, brand and blend the goods.

Co-operative warehouses are constructed in rural areas to help the farmers who cannot have their own storage facility. The interested people who would become of such societies form these for their own use. These warehouses help them to store various items like fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, paddy, etc., at cheap cost. Co-operative farms are also useful for fisheries, dairy farming, poultry, etc., Its efficiency depends upon the fall utilisation of space, good management loyalty of its members and resources.

Private warehouses are owned by private persons to store their own goods. Big business houses, wholesalers and traders have their own warehouses. They keep these stores at different places to maintain the regular supply of goods. All expenses and risk involved in storing the goods is borne by them. But these types of warehouses are very few due to the heavy cost of construction.

From 2019, new technology could be revolutionary and improving efficiency in warehouse by Warehousing Management System (WMS). Technologies including artificial intelligence, 3D printing and self-driving vehicle could be more widely used in warehouses everywhere sooner than you think. By 2030, warehouses will be a part of initiative to achieve Zero net energy.
Warehouse buildings will operate 24 x 7 x 365 and be designed with sustainability. By creating strategies, warehouse will save costs and prevent harmful emissions. Solar panels will become the main sources. of energy for warehouses.

i) Mass production :
(1) Production is based on the anticipated demand for goods. Mass production of goods takes place by establishing big factories and modern production.
(2) The market for such goods is spread all over the country. Therefore, warehouses are to be built at different places to store these products and provide prompt supplies when demanded.
(ii) Nature of commodities:
(1) Some goods are perishable- in nature and therefore it should be consumed in time to avoid deterioration.
(2) Storing them in cold storages can extend the life of the goods.
(ii) Seasonal production but regular consumption:
(1) The farm products such as wheat, sugar, pulses, etc. are produced only in seasons.
(2) But the consumption of these products are evenly spread throughout the year.
(3) If proper storage - facilities are not provided, the quality of these goods deteriorates and may not become usable.
(d) Regular production but seasonal consumption:
(1) Certain goods are produced regularly throughout the year. But they are demanded in seasons only.
(2) For Example: Rain-coats, blankets, umbrella, etc. require storage for whole year.
(3) They can be released in large quantities to meet the heavy demand in rainy and winter seasons.
(e) Proximity to production centers:
(1) Productions of goods at specific centers need to be supplied in time and without interruption to consumers throughout the country.
(2) For this purpose goods are regularly fed to the warehouses situated at different market areas.

Dock is a place in the harbour where the goods are loaded into the ship:
Dock warrant is a document of title to goods issued by dock authorities. This document certifies that the dock authorities hold the goods. To take delivery of the goods, this certificate should be given back to the authorities. The right of getting delivery of goods can be transferred to third parties too.