The government proposes to adopt radiation technology developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for improving the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables especially onions, potatoes and tomatoes to address the issue of supply side shortage that often results in price rise.
An inter-ministerial group convened by Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday apprised itself of the technology during a presentation by BARC scientists. Among those present were Union Food Minister Ramvilas Paswan, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur, nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar and BARC Director Shekhar Basu.
Later, briefing journalists, Mr. Paswan said, “BARC has developed a radioactive technology for preserving agri-commodities. We had an initial discussion on how this technology can be used on a large scale in the country to address supply crunch in some vegetables like onion, potato and tomato.”
Of several suggestions one was that radiation centres should be set up at the Central Warehousing Corporation and the Food Corporation of India. Another idea was to set up the centres in top cities.
Dr. Kakodkar said the radioactive technology had been available in the country for some time and already in use in Maharashtra, though on a small scale.
“Safety concerns are taken care of as existing norms do not permit radiation above a permissible limit,” he said.
There are about 12 radiation plants set up by private firms for different commodities, but the technology is not widely used in the country.
Food irradiation is a physical process in which food and farm commodities, in pre-packed form or in bulk, are exposed to controlled radiation energy to prevent sprouting, delay ripening, kill insects, pests, pathogenic and spoilage micro-organisms.
