Onions without tears.
As you have mentioned in your edit, Layers of crises (Indian Express, 2/12/10), the real crisis in agriculture is not merely a low yield of most of the agricultural produce but also the mismanagement of agricultural produce in India. Thousands of tons of rice and wheat are spoiled due to faulty storage. Onions and other vegetables are wasted due to lack of cold storage facilities The only way this can be tackled is through an extensive storage facilities in all talukas of the country. Is estimated that some 25 percent is lost due lack of storage.
As far as the present problem of onion is concerned, it is entirely due to weather but untimely rains started almost a month ago and the government had sufficient time to stop the export and stop the spiraling prices. Onion has a history of glut and scarcity of production ever few years in India. It is relevant to mention here that The Netherlands is the biggest exporter of onions growing only two percent of the world's production and has an export market of 23 percent. "The major reasons for this success are an excellent product, superior storage facilities; and finely-tuned transport and support infrastructure," states an article with the title, Onions without tears, in the magazine, Euro-Agri Holland. It is time we follow the Dutch example. Where there is a will, there is a way.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/layers-of-crises/728352/
December 24,2010.
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