The Union government is planning to scale up the irradiation of onions to increase their shelf life and maintain a buffer stock.
Government Initiatives
- Irradiation Scale-up: The government aims to increase irradiation from 1200 tonnes to one lakh tonnes this financial year.
- Procurement Strategy: Targeting five lakh tonnes of onions for the buffer stock in 2024-25, compared to 6.46 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
- Agencies Involved: NCCF and NAFED tasked with identifying 50 centres for irradiation and storage.
Operational Adjustments
- Storage Location: Shifting from production belts to consumption centres.
- Transportation: Exploring controlled atmosphere storage near major railheads to reduce travel time.
Procurement Fund
- Price Stabilisation Fund: Utilized for building up buffer stocks and market interventions during price fluctuations.
Export Policy
- Ban Lifted: Onion export ban lifted on May 4, 2024, with regulations including a minimum export price and duty.
- Export Data: India exported around 45,000 tonnes of onions since May 4, averaging 2000-3000 tonnes daily.
Challenges and Solutions
- Perishability and Sprouting: Onions are highly perishable with significant post-harvest losses.
- Irradiation as Solution: Increasing use of irradiation to inhibit sprouting and extend shelf life.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers:
- What is the primary aim of the Union government’s plan to scale up onion irradiation?
- A) To decrease onion production
- B) To increase onion exports
- C) To increase the shelf life of onions and maintain a buffer stock
- D) To regulate onion prices
- Which agencies are responsible for identifying centres for onion irradiation and storage?
- A) National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) only
- B) National Consumers’ Cooperative Federation (NCCF) only
- C) Both NAFED and NCCF
- D) Ministry of Agriculture
- What is the main purpose of utilizing the Price Stabilisation Fund in onion procurement?
- A) To fund research on onion cultivation
- B) To build up buffer stocks and intervene in market prices
- C) To provide subsidies to onion farmers
- D) To support onion exports
- What is one of the challenges mentioned regarding onion storage?
- A) Sprouting increases the taste of onions
- B) Onions are not suitable for long-term storage
- C) The government does not have enough storage facilities
- D) Sprouting of onions causes significant post-harvest losses