Prisoners in Andhra Pradesh will grow medicinal herbs for Himalaya Drug Company. The firm will give seeds, other inputs and extension services to the inmates at the Prisoners' Agricultural Colony at Anantapur, while the jail authorities would hand pick about 30 prisoners to grow alfalfa in a two-acre plot.

“We will buyback all the produce. It is up to the Department of Jails to compensate those who work on the fields,” said Dr Babu, Head (Agrotech and Phytochemistry) of Himalaya Drug Company.

The company signed an agreement with the Department of Prisons for imparting training to prisoners for cultivating medicinal herbs. After the training, they would grow medicinal herbs for the company.

The company procures 300 tonnes of alfalfa for its drug development activity, with most of it coming from contract farming agreements. Each acre would yield 3,000 kilograms of alfalfa.

The company, which registered a turnover of Rs 1,200 crore last year, is growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 25-30 per cent.

Mr T.P. Das, Director-General (Prisons and Correctional Services) of Andhra Pradesh Department of Prisons, said the proceeds would go to the Prisoners Welfare Fund. Prisoners have contributed Rs 3.5 crore to this fund by engaging themselves in various income-generating activities.

“To begin, the inmates will cultivate the herb Alfalfa, as it can be planted any time during the year, giving high yields over a short period of time. We will consider expanding this activity in other major jails depending on the soil strength,” he said.

A similar project is under way in Karnataka. The herb cultivation project was carried out on a two acre plot at the Open Air Prison at Avathi village in Devanhalli Taluk.

kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in

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