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Government is planning to significantly ramp up the radiation processing of onions to create a buffer stock of 1,00,000 tonnes this year. (Photo: PTI)
The government is planning to significantly ramp up the radiation processing of onions to create a buffer stock of 1,00,000 tonnes this year, as it aims to prevent shortages and price rises of the politically sensitive bulb, according to a top government official.
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The world’s biggest exporter of onions is expected to see output fall by 16 per cent to 25.47 million tonnes in 2023-24 amid lower yields in key growing states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, according to government estimates.
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To discourage hoarding and curb price volatility often sparked by supply disruptions, the government plans to use radiation technology on a large scale to increase onions’ shelf life, said Nidhi Khare, secretary at the consumer affairs ministry.
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“We are identifying 50 irradiation centres around the consuming areas. If we are successful, we will be able to store up to 1 lakh tonnes of radiation-processed onions this year,” Khare told PTI.
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The ministry has asked the state agencies NAFED and NCCF, who are procuring 500,000 tonnes of onions to create a buffer stock this year, to explore irradiation facilities around key consumption centres such as Sonepat, Thane, Nasik and Mumbai.
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Radiation processing was tried on a small scale of 1,200 tonnes near the growing region of Maharashtra last year.
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To facilitate quicker transportation of the buffer stock, the ministry is also considering setting up controlled atmosphere storage facilities at major railway hubs, Khare added.
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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First Published: May 23 2024 | 3:01 PM IST
