``We tried growing onions last year and again this year. But it is no good. The rains finish off the bulbs. We spent over Rs 2,000 on onion seeds. There is no point going after something which is not going to bring home money. Do you know I have a family of 17 to look after? And even these onions that you see on those two bighas are going to rot. We just hope the rains don't finish off the grapes.'' Gojarbai echoes the concern of the 17 who make her home.

From Nashik to Manmad, there has been a silent change over the years. More and more farmers have been experimenting withcrops other than onions. Conditions and soil permitting, that is. In fields hitherto reserved for onions and more onions, people are beginning to earmark plots in the hope their little experiments will reach fruition point.

Tomatoes and grapes seem more attractive, especially now in this second successive year of onion crop failure. Onions, we shall still grow. But only onions, we shall not. While onion loyalists say ways should be found to increase the total area under late kharif cultivation in order to offset any future kharif failure, those already hit hard say they would rather take the middle path. Grow onions but grow something else as well. Sounds risky this approach but one certainly worth trying. Only soil and weather conditions need to be studied.

While the farmers reflect on their predicament, there are moves afoot to finally introduce technology which can increase the shelf life of onions. In order to build up a buffer stock of onions, the Atomic Energy Department is said to be offering itsirradiation technology which can be transferred and used on a commercial scale.

Market insiders say the irradiation technology poses no health hazards and can solve most problems associated with storage of onions. The technology is such that it will even do away with the common problem of sprouting during storage of the onions.

In a bid to educate onion producers, marketing committees and traders, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) intends to open a demonstration plant at Lasalgaon with a capacity to irradiate over 50,000 tonne of onions annually. The costs, officials say, will be minimal and benefit all those dealing in onions.