Source-This post on India’s Irradiation Technology for Onions is based on the article “Government-backed irradiation initiative aims to save onion harvest” published in “LiveMint” on 17th May 2024.
Why in the News?”
India is piloting an innovative technology called irradiation, to extend the shelf life of onions and reduce post-harvest losses.
About Irradiation:
a) Irradiation facilities are being established in Maharashtra. These facilities are expected to treat around 25,000 tonnes of onions.
b) The project will operate under public-private partnerships, supported financially by the agriculture and food processing ministries.
c) Method: Irradiation involves using ionizing radiation, such as gamma rays, to treat food items. This process is applied to onions to prevent sprouting and microbial growth.
d) Objective: The primary goal is to extend the shelf life of onions and reduce post-harvest losses.
e) Advantages of using Irradiation:
i) Loss Reduction: Typically, about 25% of onion crops are lost post-harvest; irradiation aims to reduce this to 10-12%.
ii) Increased Storage Duration: Onions can be stored for up to seven and a half months with irradiation, compared to only about four months with conventional cold storage methods.
iii) Quality Improvement: The use of irradiation results in a recovery rate of nearly 84% for Grade A onions, significantly higher than the 56% recovery rate with traditional storage.
d) Impact of Irradiation facilities:
a) Regional Focus: Maharashtra which accounts for 43% of India’s onion production will be a primary beneficiary along with other significant producers like Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Gujarat.
b) Supply Chain Improvement: The technology is set to stabilize the onion supply chain, reduce losses, and aid in government procurement efforts.
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