Processing centre for small onions in Uppiliyapuram inactive for five years

A primary processing centre (PPC) for small onions established in 2019 at a cost of ₹2.89 crore in Maradi village, South Uppiliyapuram, remains non-operational, drawing criticism from local growers and farmer organisations

A primary processing centre (PPC) for small onions established in 2019 at a cost of ₹2.89 crore in Maradi village, South Uppiliyapuram, remains non-operational, drawing criticism from local growers and farmer organisations.

Constructed by the Agriculture Marketing Department under the NABARD Storage Infrastructure Fund Scheme (2014–15), the facility was intended to serve farmers growing small onions in Uppiliyapuram, Pachamalai, Thapettai, Musiri, and Thottiyam blocks. Tiruchi district has close to 4,000 hectares under small onion cultivation.

Despite being equipped with grading machinery and other infrastructure, the centre has remained idle for nearly five years since its inauguration.

Department officials cited multiple reasons for lack of utilisation of the facility. “Small onions are mostly graded at the field level, immediately after harvest. Traders procure directly from farmers, so there’s limited interest in using external processing units. Additionally, the machinery in the facility is basic and not suitable for large-scale operations,” said an official.

The official said the PPC’s remote location, away from major trade routes, has deterred traders. “The cost of transporting onions from here to major markets like Koyambedu, Dindigul, Madurai, and Kerala is already high — processing them here would only add to the expense,” the official said.

“This region is a major hub for small onion cultivation, and the facility was strategically located to serve both small farmers and traders. Now, officials claim traders aren’t interested— if that’s the case, why was such a large sum spent on setting it up?” asked G. Ramesh, rural district president of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), affiliated to the CPI. He urged the Agriculture Marketing Department to engage with farmer organisations and take concrete steps to make the facility operational.

A district-level official of the Agriculture Marketing Department said the centre found no takers so far. “We are now considering leasing it out through a tender process or handing it over to Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) interested in managing it,” the official added.