Onion, botanically known as Allium cepa L., is a vegetable of significant commercial value, generating approximately 77% of foreign exchange from vegetables. It contains a variety of beneficial components, including carotenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, anthocyanins, and others, which are present in substantial amounts. Onions can be consumed raw, cooked, or processed.
As a major vegetable crop, onions are economically grown throughout the country for both domestic and international markets. In India, curries cannot be made without onions, making it an essential crop in Indian agriculture. Valued for both its culinary and medicinal uses, onions play a key role in many cultures. However, onion farmers face significant challenges, particularly with post-harvest losses. Dehydration presents a practical solution to extend shelf life and reduce waste.
Distinct Features of Pusa Shobha
Pusa Shobha onions have a compact, flat-globe shape with brown outer skin and white flesh. These onions contains high TSS (16° Brix), superior dry matter content (16.18%), and excellent pungency, which ensures so they retain flavor and texture even after processing. Bulbs are medium-sized, weighing 70–100 grams, which makes them ideal for dehydration and export.
Dehydration Process
The dehydration process involves the removal of moisture from onion slices which ultimately enhance the shelf life. These slices are then treated with a 5% NaCl solution to enhance nutritional quality and maintain flavor. They are dried at 60°C only so they retain nutrients even while reducing moisture content. Proper packaging in HDPE pouches ensures product quality and stability for up to three months.
Benefits for Farmers
Farmers benefit from the value addition to the crop, dehydration and enhancing the shelf life of onion are value additions that will get extra venue stream to them. The following benefits are:
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Higher Profits: Dehydrated onions fetch premium prices, especially during the off-season.
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Market Stability: Surplus onions can be preserved, reducing market price fluctuations.
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Value Addition: The food industry’s demand for dehydrated onions opens new income opportunities.
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Reduced Wastage: Dehydration minimizes losses due to pests, diseases, and sprouting.
Farmer Empowerment with Pusa Shobha
Adoption of the Pusa Shobha variety helps the farmers to shift from traditional farming to value-added production. Dehydration technology and access to processing facilities provide more encouragement for the farmer to generate a good margin by cutting dependency on fresh onion volatile markets. It guarantees the reliable high-quality product to the local and export markets as well.
Pusa Shobha is one promising onion variety that offers a sustainable and profitable solution for farmers. Combined with the economic advantages of value addition, the variety makes onion farming a game-changer. With Pusa Shobha, farmers can attain better incomes, cut losses, and contribute to a more stable agricultural economy.
