Maharashtra’s Onion Revolution: Irradiation Centres to Tame Price Volatility

In a bid to calm the notoriously volatile onion market, the Maharashtra government has declared the rapid setup of specialized onion irradiation centres across the state. This follows decades of electoral defeats in pivotal onion-producing areas, where farmers' rage over export control and price collapse has consistently upset political fortunes.

Maharashtra, accounting for some 40% of India's onion production, has traditionally been fighting the dual evil of post-harvest wastage and rampant price fluctuations. The government's new policy seeks to end this vicious cycle by exploiting irradiation technology-applied doses of ionising radiation to suppress sprouting and rot, thus increasing the shelf life of onions from mere four months in cold storage to more than seven months. This technology should cut post-harvest loss from 25% to a minimum of 10%, giving farmers a significant cushion to set aside their crops during surpluses and sell when prices normalize.

It is not only a technological improvement but a strategic intervention. The government intends to establish irradiation facilities in large onion belts such as Nashik, Pune, Ahmednagar, and Solapur within two to three months. The facilities, with some using nuclear power and placed strategically along the Samruddhi Expressway, will facilitate the movement and storage of onions, enhancing market access and farmer returns.

Supported by public-private partnerships and funds from the agriculture and food processing ministries, the project aims to establish a strong buffer stock-targeting up to 100,000 tonnes of radiation-processed onions in the current year. It will curb hoarding, avoid shortages, and finally protect consumers from price peaks.

With this pro-active policy, Maharashtra is not only addressing a chronic agricultural problem but also raising the bar on post-harvest management for the rest of India.

Economic Times, Business Standard, Times of India