Police officers are usually too busy with their work schedule. Unlike other professionals, they rarely get time even to spare for their family. Despite such limitations, a group of police officers of Ambalavayal police station in Wayanad district decided to do something that worths praises.
Three months ago, a team of police officers, headed by sub-inspector Abbas Ali, decided to turn the barren land around the station into a small farm to grow fruits and vegetables. Abbas Ali wanted to clear the mess and keep it neat and tidy. So he put forward the idea of farming, all 30 civil police officers agreed Now, the station’s premises look like farmhouse.
“First we had to till the land and prepare it for farming before buying the seeds. We also bought 500 grow bags. At least two officers, who were not engaged in day-to-day police works, spent time in the farm daily,” says Abbas Ali.
Three months of hard work has paid off, and the farm now produces four kinds of chillies, different varieties of brinjal, pumpkin, beans, okra, tomatoes and cabbage.
Though not a skilled farmer, Abbas Ali has a garden and a small farm at home. “I used to spend time for farming. I think that really helped me here. As I am aware of the process a little bit, I was able to lead the team. Still, we struggled a lot at first as most of the plants in the farm needed daily care and watering. So in between the duty or after night duty, we had to stay back and work in the field,” says Abbas Ali, a native of Malappuram.
The farm now produces enough vegetables to fulfill the needs of police officers in the station. The officers also have bigger plans. “If everything goes well, we plan to produce on a larger scale and who knows, one day we might be able to sell it to the public,” they say.
Police work can be an all-consuming profession and still, they managed to find time for an achievement which should be a model for many.
