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Labour shortage, especially for handling of foodgrains, has prompted Kochi Port to look for more modern methods to unload cargo.
The labour shortage was cited by a senior port official, while handling of imported Australian wheat, as the reason to consider automated facilities to ensure smooth cargo handling, particularly for bulk food grains. Currently, handling of imported food grains is carried out using labour intensive techniques.
The official told BusinessLine that silos and pneumatic pumping systems could be used to handle bulk imports.
Having such silos in ports permits importers to carry out ship to shore unloading efficiently, hygienically and without operations getting disrupted by rains. This will minimise wastage associated with handling food grains through ship cranes, pay loaders, open lorries etc.
Leasing out land The port, he said, has expressed its willingness to lease out land for 30 years to develop such facilities and provide necessary infrastructure support. This would also facilitate containerised movement of such bulk cargo. The shortage of labour registered with the Kerala State Head Load Workers Welfare Board in Willingdon Island to handle bulk cargoes has affected the movement of recently imported 31,000 tonnes of wheat.
The labourers who were employed for the job had demanded more wages to fill the wheat in sacks before despatching it to the consignee. The workers later withdrew from any direct action following the intervention of port management and trade union leaders.
However, the absence of sufficient labour resulted in slow movement of cargo from ships to the port’s godowns.
The labour problem has forced the importer to divert the second wheat consignment to Mangaluru.
Modernisation Given such labour issues, the port had also decided not to further promote bulk arrival of wheat and related commodities. Being a food grains deficit State, the port official said that the modernisation in ports to facilitate bulk imports could take advantage of Kerala’s position on the international sea routes to meet trade requirements.
Even the Food Corporation of India is on the look out for investors who could put up silos in ports to handle food grains, he said.
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