The Inmates Of This Tamil Nadu Prison Have Harvested 500 Kilos Of Organic Shallots

It has now been 3 years straight that the inmates of Tiruchy Central Prison in Tamil Nadu have harvested organic shallots. 500 kilos were sent to Freedom Bazaar in order to be sold, as per a report in The New Indian Express.

Officials said that they were sold at Rs 80 per kilo. That is about 20 percent less than the market price.

On the prison grounds, 184 acres of land is cultivable. Of that 51 acres are used to grow vegetables, greens and sugarcane.

EPS

¡°Almost 90 percent of the crops are cultivated using organic fertilizers such as vermicompost. We are working towards 100 percent of organic farming in the coming days. The first batch of shallots at the Bazaarsell like hotcakes and many people showed interest in buying the organically-grown vegetable,¡± said Thirumurugan, Office Superintendent (Freedom Bazaar in-charge).

The next step is to cultivate herbal and medicinal plants.

¡°Though there are more than 184 acres of agricultural land, only one-fourth of it is being used for cultivation due to irrigation issues. Monsoon and rains due to the cyclone have ensured a decent amount of water in irrigation tanks. Using this, we have started preparing fields for medicinal plants such as tulsi, hibiscus, etc. It will also be made into herbal tea powder and kept for sales," Kanagaraj, DIG Prisons (Tiruchy range) said.

DTNext

Inmates turn farmers as these are grown and harvested and that gives them a chance to turn over a new leaf whenever they go back out into the world.

A nice way to take things forward.