The adverse climatic condition was not a hindrance for the police to develop a model organic vegetable farm near the police station at Peermade.
Started on an experimental basis as part of an Agriculture Department scheme on 10 cents of land, the farm is now filled with cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, potato and green chilli. The produce is used in the police canteen.
Though civil police officer Shajahan is in charge of the farm, all the officials at the station do the farming work in their free time.
No easy task
As soil was not fertile, developing the farm was not an easy task. “First we tested the soil and added nutrients to make the soil fertile,” Shajahan said.
“It was with the continuous support and timely advice of Krishi Bhavan officials that we developed the farm. They also created in us an interest for farming, which is a refreshing change for us,” said Sub Inspector Cleetus K. Joseph. “We had earlier successfully cultivated plantain and it gave us the confidence to develop the vegetable farm,” said Devasia, civil police officer. Now, the canteen depends less on the market for vegetables and provides organic food for the officers. The cops are now planning cultivation in more areas.
Assistant Agriculture Director Jacob T. Mani is leading the vegetable farm development scheme in Peermade block.
Policemen develop a model organic vegetable farm on 10 cents of land near their station at Peermade in Idukki.
