After 132 years of supplying milk to troops, Military Farms formally close down

Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 31 

Almost a century-and-a-half after they were established to produce and supply fresh milk as well as milk products for troops, the Army’s Military Farms have finally been closed down.

The move comes about three years after the Ministry of Defence cleared a proposal to shut 39 Military Farms across the country in a bid to rationalise resources and cut manpower and reduce costs.

A formal ceremony was held at Delhi Cantonment today in which the Military Farm’s regimental flag was lowered for the last time and laid to rest with full military honours.

“After 132 years of glorious service to the Nation, curtains were drawn on Military Farms on 31 Mar 2021. All Officers & Staff have been redeployed within the Ministry of Defence to continue providing service to the Nation,” a tweet on the Army’s official handle said.

In August 2017, the Defence Ministry had announced a series of reform measures for the Indian Army which included shutting down certain logistical and static elements such as Military Farms and local workshops.

The Army was spending about Rs 300 crore annually on the operations and maintenance of these farms. These supplied more than 3.5 crore litres of milk and 25,000 metric tonnes of hay annually to the Army, accounting for 14 per cent of the total requirement. The remaining requirements were sourced through local commercial purchase.

Occupying around 20,000 acres of defence land across the country, the Military Farms held about 25,000 head of cattle. The animals will be transferred to other government departments or dairy cooperatives at a nominal cost.

Military Farms in India were established by the British Army and the first such farm was set up on February 1, 1889 at Allahabad. Thereafter, a large number of Military Farms were set up, which at the time of partition numbered over 100 units mostly in the present Central, Southern and Western Command.

With the formation of the Eastern Command and Northern Command additional Military Farms units were established.

A quasi-commercial organisation, the role of Military Farms included supply of fresh milk and butter to troops in peace, field and high-altitude areas at their location on daily basis as well as production, procurement, transportation and issue of baled hay to animal transport units as per demand.

In India, Military Farms are pioneers in introduction of Artificial Insemination in cattle in 1925. The dairy development in the organised sector in the country is also attributed to Military Farms. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the apex body on animal sciences, identified Military Farms as the largest cattle holding department in the country.

ICAR also had a collaborative project with Military Farms, Project Frieswal, to evolve a national cross-bred cattle breed for the country.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation also joined hands with Military Farms for large scale plantation of Jatropha for the production of bio-diesel as an alternative, eco-friendly source of energy.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.