THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Here’s a good news for organic food lovers! The Central Prison at Poojappura has opened a vegetable store on its premises where you can buy fresh vegetables grown in an organic way.
The sales counter, launched as part of government’s Haritha Keralam Mission, is near the main gate of the central prison. It was opened by Haritha Keralam Mission vice-chairman T N Seema on Thursday. In the first phase the counter will be open for three days per week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The inaugural day witnessed a huge crowd which according to the jail authorities has boosted their confidence. Around 25 types of vegetables were sold out at the counter by noon, said Deputy Prison Officer Ajayakumar, who coordinates farming activities in the Central Jail.
Vegetables which were in high demand included ladies finger, pumpkin, bitter gourd, tomato, ivy gourd, raw banana and long beans. “We did not bring the produce in huge quantities since it was the inaugural day. But literally everything was sold out by noon,” Ajayakumar said.
Another attraction of the stall is the discounted rate offered. Vegetables are priced even lower than the Horticorp rates.
The idea of opening a regular stall was mooted by T N Seema during a public function in the central jail last month. Produces of the Open Jail, Nettukaltheri will also be sold through the stall.
Farming is done in over ten hectares of the central jail. 30 prisoners have been tasked with the upkeep of the farm. About 70 percent of the seed requirement is met from the farm itself and rest is bought from the College of Agriculture, Vellayani.
The Nettukaltheri Open Prisons undertakes vegetable farming on 20 acres. “Plantain, spinach, ladies finger and salad cucumber are the major crops. All our products are safe-to-eat organic vegetables,” said Jail Superintendent Sam Thankayyan.
Vegetables left after meeting the food requirements of jail are sold to local residents at subsidized rates. Director General of Prisons R Sreelekha made the first sales. Prisons IG H Gopakumar, DIG B Pradeep, Central Jail Superintendent Santhosh, District Jail Superintendent Sathyaraj, Jail Officers Association state general secretary C P Janardhanan, subordinate officers association general secretary PT Santhosh, and state president Ramabhadran attended the function.