MUMBAI, MARCH 3: India's first mass-scale demonstration onion irradiation centre is expected to be commissioned by this year-end at Lasalgaon in Nashik district of Maharashtra - which will increase the shelf life of onions. Built at an estimated cost of around Rs 6 crore to Rs 7 crore- the commercial demonstration irradiator designed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc) at Trombay in Mumbai, will be capable of processing 10 tonne of onion per hour in the plant.About 60 to 70 per cent of civil works are complete and we expect the facility to be commissioned in a year's time, said DR Bongirwar, head of Barc's food technology division. The Nashik district of Maharashtra accounts for over 45 per cent of onion produce in the country - and 20 to 23 per cent goes waste as a result of sprout inhibition and destruction by microbes.
Bongirwar said that the Barc has also organised training course for the locals, so that they are capable of handling the irradiation unit in future. Irradiation costs may range from 30 paise to 50 paise per kg, he added. The technology is absolutely safe and the consumer acceptance is high.
In 1994 the Government had approved irradiation of onion, potato and spices for internal marketing and consumption. A small pilot scale food package irradiator at food technology division of Barc in Trombay at Mumbai which can treat upto 500 kg of onion and potato per hour has gained acceptance.AM Samuel, who heads the radiation medicine centre said that the irradiated onions or any other food is absolutely safe. There is no evidence to suggest that radicals or radiolytic products affect the safety of radiation processed food, a medical practitioner said. A facility for technology demonstration purpose has been commissioned at Vashi in Navi Mumbai for irradiation of spices. The plant has a thoroughput of 20 tonnes per day and set up by the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (Brit), a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
Once started on a mass scale, such units will increase the shelf-life of foods and prevent its destruction due to sprouting and spoiling because of microbes, said Samuel. Adds Bongirwar, low dose irradiation inhibits sprouting in bulbs and tubers, thereby extending shelf-life and retaining quality.
About 30 years of research and development work at the Barc has demonstrated that radiation processing of foods can contribute to nation's food security by reducing post-harvest losses caused by insect infestation, microbial spoilage and physiological changes. Around 41 countries, including India have regulations permitting irradiation of foods and 28 countries are irradiating foods and processing industries and institutional catering.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.