The onion processing incubation centre at Perambalur, established last year by the Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT), Thanjavur, will get operational during this month.
The institute will supply machinery, with a capacity to process one tonne of shallots a day, to the centre within the next 10 days, IIFPT Director C. Anandharamakrishnan said.
The integrated machinery will initially be utilised for peeling and packaging. The Farmers’ Producer Company that will run the unit has entered into a tie-up with a Tiruchi-based exporter to market the vaccum-packed peeled onion.
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The Perambalur district administration roped in the agricultural marketing division to establish the unit and sanctioned ₹28 lakh for the machinery.
In the next phase, the processing unit will be upgraded with fully automated machinery equipped with conveyor belt. The market demand will be analysed for planning the unit’s expansion, Prof. Anandharamakrishnan said.
The unit will be equipped with machinery to produce onion powder, paste and flakes for which there is strong demand in overseas markets.
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The unit was inaugurated last year by Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
Under refrigerated condition, the vacuum-packed peeled onion will have a shelf life of one month, onion powder and flakes six months and onion paste five.
The facility is a boon for onion farmers in the district who hitherto had to suffer losses due to absence of any post-harvest handling facility.
As per official statistics, production of onion in Perambalur district accounts for 70,000 tonnes a year in a cultivation area of 8,000 hectares.