The Balasore jail would soon adopt organic management technique for farming in its land.
This would be undertaken under the guidance and monitoring of expert Dr Ashok Panigrahi , an environmentalist and organic protagonist.
In fact, Panigrahi mooting an idea of organic farming in jail campus had written to the authorities last month stating that it would not only promote and propagate the eco- friendly farming but also add to skilling of the jail inmates who are either of peasant community or have interest in agriculture.
Director General of Prison Bijay Kumar Sharma, who visited the Balasore Jail recently, had approved the proposal of Panigrahi after having a discussion with him. “He opined that the model would be replicated in other jails too if proved successful here,” said superintendent of Balasore Jail Surendra Kumar Pattnaik. “We have around five acres of land inside our campus where we cultivate mainly paddy and vegetables. There are about 50 inmates in our jail those who are conversant with agricultural practices,” he informed.
Dr Panigrahi, a retired professor as well as a visiting faculty in many reputed institutions, said the project would commence within a month.
The farm land would be managed organically addressing the soil fertility as well as pest control issues. “Under the project, the Vermi- compost would be prepared in the campus and pest control would be done through kernel of neem and pongam,” Panigrahi said.
Panigrahi , in his letter , on September 2 , had observed that the jails, particularly in Baleswar having own land, had an ample of scope and opportunity to adopt and practice organic farming, when the State Agriculture Department was planning to convert at least 15 districts as organic farming ones in coming years.