Modi govt takes a leaf out of Vajpayee's to tackle onion prices

Plans to revive the previous NDA dispensation's idea to increase the shelf life of onions through irradiation technology

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is looking up to the earlier NDA regime led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee for an innovative method to arrest the surging prices of onion. The Vajpayee government had proposed an "irradiation technology" to increase the shelf life of onions, with the help of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). According to officials in the know, the Modi government plans to revive this idea.

An irradiation centre already exists in Nashik, the hub of India's onion trade. Known as Krushi Utpadan Sanrakshan Kendra, the irradiation centre is primarily being used to irradiate mangoes for export to the US; irradiation of onions is also done, but on a smaller scale.

According to officials, the government is actively considering reviving the Nashik centre and opening more such ones across the country.

"We are going to make a presentation to Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan next week about the (Nashik) centre and how it can help increase the shelf life of onions" said a senior government official who did not wish to be named.

He said since its inception in 2002, the Nashik centre, which was set up at a cost of Rs 8-10 crore, has been sparsely used for onions. Maharashtra is India's biggest onion producer, contributing around 75 per cent of the annual output.

Onion is usually harvested thrice a year and the fresh produce is available for just five or six months, while demand during the remaining months is met from stored onions. However, after sometime, extended period under storage leads to sprouting which damages the crop. Irradiation prevents precisely this.

"If the shelf life of onions can be increased so that they can be stored for longer duration without impacting their quality, it can be a good technological breakthrough to meet the perennial shortage of the commodity," said the official quoted above.

According to the BARC website, application of 0.03 to 0.09 kilogray of radiation on onions can hinder sprouting in them, which is the main reason for their spoilage.

"The idea is that if 20-40 irradiation centres can be opened in major consuming centres across the country to store, say 10,000-15,000 tonnes of onions each, it can go a long way in providing a long-term solution to our onion supply shortage," the official noted.