Enhancing Onion Preservation and Storage through Improved Storage System

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to assess the influence of traditional and improved storage system for freshly harvested onion bulbs cultivar violet de Galmi widely grown in Northern Nigeria on postharvest losses of onions using standard methods. Data obtained revealed that incidences of rotting (23%) and sprouting (7.8%) onion bulbs were found to be significantly (P> 0.05) lower in Ventilated Onion Safe’ compared with the three traditional storage methods with a range of 34 – 61% rotting and 11 – 22% sprouting. Physiological weight loss was highest in Ventilated Onion Safe (22%) and the least in Straw hut (14%).  The levels and extent of postharvest losses were found to be influenced by relative humidity, temperature and ventilation. Healthy, undamaged cured onion bulbs can be stored for six months in dry, well ventilated stores under ambient environmental conditions of Northern Nigeria. Farmers should be trained with appropriate skills and tools needed to preserve and store Onions such as harvesting Onions at maturity, proper drying of bulbs before storage and the use of dry, well ventilated storage facilities. The adoption of the improved onion storage facility (Ventilated Onion Safe) developed and patented by a team of researchers in Nigeria for enhanced onion preservation and storage is therefore recommended.