ONION STORAGE STRUCTURES

Ashwini Benke and Major Singh

ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Rajgurunagar-410505
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Introduction
Onion is an important vegetable crop cultivated throughout the world for its culinary,
dietary, therapeutic and medicinal value. Being a seasonal crop, bulbs of onion and garlic are
usually stored in ambient storage condition until the harvest of next season crop or for longer
period to avoid the glut in market as well as year round availability. Both these crops being a
semi-perishable gets deteriorate during storage. Despite of the ample production of both this
commodities, generally 40-50% of the produce failed to reach the market due to the huge post
harvest losses in storage. It has been observed that onion have the highest storage losses when
they are stored between 5 to 250C at relative humidity 65-75%. These losses comprise of
physiological weight loss (PLW) i.e. moisture loss and shrinkage (30-40%), rotting (10-12%)
and sprouting (8-10%). In India, under short day condition onion is harvested during kharif (Oct-
Nov, 20%), late kharif (Feb-March, 20%) and rabi (April-May, 60%). Kharif and late kharif
onion harvest is immediately consumed within one or two months as there is heavy demand
during those months and therefore does not require storage. However, rabi harvest of April-May
is in huge quantity creating glut in market and hence the surplus amount need to be stored so as
to make it available during price hike in market in October-November.
Several modified onion storage structures has been designed and tested by ICAR-DOGR,
Pune in collaboration with Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Maharashtra; NHRDF, New
Delhi and MPKV, Rahuri which helps in reduction of storage losses by 20 to 50%.

Modified onion storage structures

A. Bottom and side ventilated low cost structure
This storage structure is designed for small and marginal farmers. It is constructed with
bamboo/wooden framework provided with bottom ventilation. The roof is made up of thatch
from dried sugarcane leaves or grasses. The length can be kept as per requirement and bulbs can
be stored in a compartment of about 15 feet.
 Bottom and side ventilated single row low cost storage structure

B. Bottom and side ventilated double row structure

These structures are of permanent /semi-permanent type and usually constructed with
capacity of 25-50 tonnes. They have length of 30-50 feet and width of 12 feet with two rows.
The width of each row is 4 feet and free space of 4 feet in between the two rows is kept for
walking. The length should not be more than 50 feet as increase in length may increase rotting
losses. These structures are constructed at 2 feet above ground level to provide bottom
ventilation supported over RCC pillars. The bottom and sidewalls can be made of bamboo or
wooden bantams. Door side and opposite to door sidewalls are covered with green shade net to
protect from rain. The roof is made with asbestos sheets.

Bottom and side ventilated double row structure

C. Top and bottom ventilated structure with mud plaster on side walls
This structure may better suited to humid and high temperature areas and constructed with
G.I. framework. The floor is ventilated and constructed with wooden bantams. The sidewalls are
made of bamboo and plastered with clay and cow dung paste. The ventilation is provided at
lower portion of western sidewall and upper portion of the eastern sidewall. The lower portion
ventilator of western sidewall has control flaps to regulate the entry of hot winds in summer and
high humid wind in rainy season. Plastered sidewalls controls humidity in rainy days, whereas
maintain inside temperature during summer. The structure can be constructed with 25 to 50
tonnes capacity.

Top and bottom ventilated structure with mud plaster on side walls

Storage structure Suitability

Bottom and side ventilated double row
structure
Top and bottom ventilated structure with mud
plaster on side walls
Low cost bottom and side ventilated single row
storage structure
Designed for farmers and traders which are
subsidized by Government of Maharashtra.
Suitable for humid areas.
Designed for poor and marginal farmers

Advantages
The post harvest losses in these structures are reported to be mainly consisting of physiological
weight loss (20-25%), sprouting (8-10%) and decay (10-12%). The losses in these ambient
storage structures are primarily attributed to the entrapping of carbon dioxide (CO2) evolved in
respiration in the commodity. The higher concentration of CO 2 increases the sprouting. Further,
high humidity in such structures results in microbial decay i.e. rotting due to Aspergillus
commonly known as black mould and other microorganisms. The rotting of sprouted bulbs
augments the losses caused due to microbial decay.

Disadvantages
Although, the innovations in storage designs are made, there are certain limitations to these
structures like-
 The structures are vulnerable to climatic conditions being not fully protected which make
at least 20-25% postharvest losses inevitable.
 Air circulation and humidity cannot be controlled.
 The losses are huge in coastal and hot humid zones.

Important consideration during construction

1. The structure should be constructed at an elevated place under well ventilated condition.
2. There should not be any water stagnation, waste material and weeds around the storage.
3. The width of each compartment should not be more than about 4-6 feet whereas under
high humidity, less width is preferable.
4. The maximum height should not be more than 5 and length 15 feet, respectively.
5. Bottom ventilation of about 2 feet should be provided for proper aeration.
6. The floor and sidewall should be constructed with wooden bantam or bamboos and there
should be space in between two bantams. Use of iron mesh for side walls should be
avoided.
7. The roof of tin sheet should be avoided and instead of that asbestos sheet, Mangalore tiles
or thatch is preferable.
8. The roof should be extended 3 feet after sidewalls from all sides as it provides protection
against rain splashes.
9. The single row structure should be constructed opposite to wind direction i.e. North-South
while double row should be constructed in the direction of wind i.e. East-West.
10. Disinfection of structures should be done before loading of bulbs. After storage use of
pesticides are prohibited.
11. Periodical removing of rotted and sprouted bulbs at an interval of 1.5 to 2 month should be
done.
12. Site selected for onion storage structure should be well drained and should be easily
accusable to good road.
13. There should not be tall civil work close to structure.
14. Cost effectiveness of structures is based on utilization of locally available material for the
construction.

Success Story
The popularization of this type of structure has helped in increasing the availability of huge
quantities of onion which otherwise are lost due to the country type storage without much
addition in cost of storage. More than 31,000 storage structures are available with farmers of
Maharashtra with the capacity of aprox. 8.0 Lakh MT.

Subsidy
Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra is goving subsidy at the rate of Rs.
3500/- per MT with a maximum amount of subsidy Rs. 87500/- up to 25 MT capacity. The
details of estimate and designs of storage structures are as given below: