Agronest by TATA - Reducing Onion Waste

As the agricultural sector supports 70 per cent of the India’s population and contributes to 50 per cent of the GDP, Tata Steel’s Innovent team (the innovent department conceptualised in 2014 strategically develops solutions for the future) identified this white space in the market to build solutions in agri-infrastructure. The 2019 delayed monsoon had led to crop damages of onion in Nashik, Maharashtra, which eventually pushed the prices of onion to nearly Rs 200 per kg in different parts of the country between just two months i.e. November–December. 

Tata Steel’s modular steel-based construction solution brand ‘Nest-In’ is set to reduce onion tears for the farmers and the public. A first of-its-kind smart warehouse for onions in the country. This warehouse for onions developed with scientific backing and latest innovations and technology. The lack of scientific storage practices, non-standard designs and poor quality of material used for onion storage leads to over 40 per cent of loss of the produce inside the warehouse. 

With unpredictable weather and climate changes and the recent challenges of transport movement owing to Covid-19 induced restrictions, farmers had been facing multiple challenges in terms of storage and maintaining a healthy shelf life for their produce. As we had seen in the last few years, losses in quality and quantity of onions due to lack of proper storage facilities leads to skyrocketing prices of onions. 

An onion storage solution from Tata Steel’s Nest-In ‘Agronest’ had been launched last year and is picking up pace and acceptance in helping to reduce spoilage of the onions to half of its current level. 

The Agronest smart warehouse solution has a unique structural design to maximise air flow and is spacious thus making it conducive for longer and safer storage of onions and provides a cost-effective environment control to ensure minimal wastage. The warehouse is fitted with sensors for monitoring parameters like temperature, humidity and gas, thereby enabling early detection of spoilage of the produce. 

The TATAs strongly believe achieving self-reliance and self-sustainability in agriculture is critical for making India Atman Nirbhar. Their expert professionals had developed this customised solution for the agriculture sector that is long-term and practical. TATA remains committed to creating innovative products and solutions for our customers and enable a better tomorrow as it stands committed towards the nations’ development.