Economics of storage of onion in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan

A study was undertaken to examine the economics of storage in onion supply chain in the Jhunjunu district which is one of the major onion growing district of Rajasthan. A total sample size of 75 onion growers was taken from Jhunjunu district. In Jhunjunu district generally farmer's store onion in storage (under ambient conditions) in the months May to October every year after harvesting the onion crop. The out of the total quantity of marketed surplus (11519.90q), 5221.97q onion produce was stored by the onion growers (54.66 per cent) in onion storage at farm level by the sample farmers during May to October, 2011 period at different locations in Jhunjunu district. 14.68per cent of onion is lost during storage period owing to post harvest losses. Maximum return from onion marketing was received during October month (34.24 per cent) due to shortage of produce in market. An overall average profit of 9.98 per cent was obtained by onion growers during six months storage period. The major reasons for storing onion by farmers were for home consumption (97.6 per cent) and to reap benefits of higher prices (92.7 per cent). Majority of farmers (58.5per cent) adopted improved methods of storage. About 90.2 per cent farmers reported that lack of knowledge about proper scientific methods for storage of onion was the major problem faced by farmers. The storage of onion could lead to double farmers ’income and could farmers ’could fetch better prices if onion sold when there is more demand in market.