Onion irradiation trial in India likely next summer
There is already an irradiation centre at Lasalgaon for irradiation of agricultural commodities. Currently, the MSAMB is irradiating mangoes before exporting the fruits to the US. The MSAMB is also planning to propagate irradiation of onions among farmers after experiments.
As per the norms of USA, irradiation of mangoes is mandatory before exporting those to the US. Accordingly, the Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) has taken up irradiation of mangoes from the 2007-08 financial year. In the season during 2014-15, the Lasalgaon irradiation centre has irradiated 295 metric tonnes of mangoes for export to USA.
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) had set up the irradiation centre - Krushak (Krushi Utpadan Sanrakshan Kendra) at Lasalgaon - to irradiate the agricultural commodities for their preservation in 2002. The Lasalgoan facility is commercially operated by the Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) as part of a memorandum of understanding signed by BARC, Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology and MSAMB.
Source: indiatimes.com
