Military Farms Service

Last updated
Military Farms Service
Army Military Farms Service Insignia (India).svg
Military Farms Service Insignia
Active1889 – 2017

Military Farms in India were set up to ensure a clean and continuous supply of cows milk to troops located in various garrisons across British India. After Indian independence, the Indian Army continued and expanded the service. [1] The farms spread over 20,000 acres of prime defence land and had over 25,000 cattle. [2] The 39 military farms are spread across India in cities such as Ambala, Kolkata, Srinagar, Agra, Pathankot, Lucknow, Meerut, Allahabad and Guwahati. [3] But recently, after recommendations by the Shekatkar Committee, [4] [5] [6] all military farms were shut in 2017, [7] [8] to cut costs and better utilise thousands of acres of prime defence land. [3]

Contents

History

The first Military Farm was set up on 1 February 1889 with the establishment of Military Farm 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 Eastern Command and Northern Command additional Military Farm Units were established initially on adhoc basis and then regularised by the Indian government in 1993 as permanent Military Farm units. [1]

Achievements

Decision to shut Military Farms

The Army decided to close down its military farms which house around 23,600 cattle with an annual production of over 33 million kg of milk, in two phases with the last farm shutting down by 2017. One of the reasons the decision was taken because it was seen that military farms were no longer needed due to the growing availability of quality milk and milk products in the civilian market. [10] The personnel of the military farms will be progressively transferred to other wings and departments. [11] All the farms are on defence land and these will be used for other defence purposes. [12] 25,000 heads of cattle, which includes thousands of high-yielding Frieswal cows were given to Indian Council of Agricultural Research and different state governments for rearing. [3] [13] [14] [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arjan Singh</span> Marshal of the Indian Air Force

Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, was a senior air officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the 3rd Chief of the Air Staff from 1964 to 1969, leading the Air Force through the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He was the first and only officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to be promoted to five-star rank as Marshal of the Indian Air Force, equal to the army rank of Field Marshal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idris Hasan Latif</span> Air Chief Marshal IAF (1923–2018)

Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif, PVSM was a former air officer in the Indian Air Force. He served as the 10th Chief of Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from 1978 to 1981. After retiring from the air force, he served as 11th Governor of Maharashtra from 1982 to 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Territorial Army (India)</span> Military reserve force in India

The Territorial Army (TA) is a military reserve force composed of part-time volunteers who provide support services to the Indian Army. It consists of officers, junior commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers and other personnel who hold ranks identical to those in the Indian Army, and also maintains civilian occupations. The primary role of the TA is to "relieve the regular army from static duties and assist civil administration in dealing with natural calamities and maintenance of essential services" and to "provide units for the regular army as and when required".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Naval Command</span> Indian navy command

The Western Naval Command is one of the three command–level formations of the Indian Navy. It is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. As the senior–most of the three formations, the command is responsible for the all naval forces in the Arabian Sea and western parts of the Indian Ocean and the naval establishments on the west coast of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Command (India)</span> Indian Army command

Southern Command is a formation of the Indian Army, active since 1895. It has seen action during the integration of several Princely States into modern India, during the 1961 Indian liberation of Goa, and during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani Wars. Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh is the current Southern Army Commander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amrit Mahal</span> Breed of cattle

The Amrit Mahal is a breed of cattle that originated from the erstwhile state of Mysore in Karnataka, India. They originated from the Hallikar and closely related breeds, Hagalavadi and Chithradurg. Originally developed for use in war for transporting equipage, the bullocks are notable for their great endurance and speed. Their head is elongated with a ridge in the middle and a bulging forehead. The cows in contrast are poor milk-yielders and hence, are classified to be a draught breed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bipin Rawat</span> First Chief of Defence Staff of India (1958–2021)

General Bipin Rawat was an Indian military officer who was a four-star general of the Indian Army. He served as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces from January 2020 until his death in a helicopter crash in December 2021. Prior to taking over as the CDS, he served as the 57th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed Forces as well as 26th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delhi Republic Day parade</span> Parade marking the Republic Day celebrations in India

The Delhi Republic Day parade is the largest and most important of the parades marking the Republic Day celebrations in India. The parade takes place every year on 26 January at Kartavya Path, New Delhi. It is the main attraction of India's Republic Day celebrations, which last for three days. The first parade was held in 1950, and it has been held every year since. The cultural pageant is a symbol of a diverse but united India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunil Lanba</span> Former chief of the Indian Navy

Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, PJG, ADC is a retired Indian naval officer who served as the 23rd Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy. He assumed the office on 31 May 2016 after Admiral Robin K. Dhowan and demitted office three years later on 31 May 2019. During this time, he also served as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and Honorary Aide-de-Camp to the President of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karambir Singh</span>

AdmiralKarambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, is a former flag officer of Indian Navy, who served as the 24th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). The "Grey Eagle" of the Navy, he replaced Admiral Sunil Lanba as the CNS after his retirement on 31 May 2019. Prior to his ascension, Admiral Singh served as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birender Singh Dhanoa</span>

Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VM, ADC is an Indian air force officer who was the 22nd Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force and served from 31 December 2016 to 30 September 2019. Dhanoa also served as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devraj Anbu</span> Indian Army general

Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, ADC is a retired Indian Army general who served as Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS). He assumed office on 1 June 2018 following the retirement of Lt Gen Sarath Chand, and retired on 31 August 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abhay Krishna</span>

Lieutenant General Abhay Krishna, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC is a retired officer of Indian Army. He served as General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Central Command from 1 October 2018 following the retirement of Lieutenant General Balwant Singh Negi, to 30 September 2019. He was succeeded by Lieutenant General Iqroop Singh Ghuman. Prior to that, he commanded the Eastern Command and South Western Command of the Indian Army

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dewan Rabindranath Soni</span> Indian Army

Lieutenant General Dewan Rabindranath Soni, PVSM, VSM is a former General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Southern Command of the Indian Army. He served in office from 1 December 2017 till 30 September 2018. He assumed the post after Lieutenant General P M Hariz retired and was succeeded by Lt General Satinder Kumar Saini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manoj Mukund Naravane</span> 27th Chief of the Army Staff (India)

General Manoj Mukund Naravane is a retired Indian Army General who served as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), as well as the temporary Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from 15 December 2021 until his superannuation on 30 April 2022. He took over as COAS from General Bipin Rawat on 31 December 2019 after the latter completed his term. Prior to his appointment as the COAS, the general served as the 40th Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) of the Indian Army, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Eastern Command and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Army Training Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranbir Singh (general)</span> Indian Army general

Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, PVSM, AVSM & Bar, YSM, SM, ADC is a former General Officer in the Indian Army. He last served as the General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Northern Command. He assumed office on 1 June 2018 from Lt Gen Devraj Anbu who assumed the office of Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He was the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army during the 2016 Indian Line of Control strike & during the 2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar he was Additional Director General of Military Operations (ADGMO). He was considered the face of the operations because he briefed the media after both the strikes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. Hari Kumar</span> Indian Navy admiral

Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar is a serving flag officer in the Indian Navy. He is the 25th and current Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). Previously, he served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. In his prior appointments, he served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Chief of Personnel, Controller Personnel Services, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Flag Officer Sea Training and the Chief of the Staff of the Western Naval Command. He was the Commandant of the Naval War College, Goa and served as a naval advisor to the government of Seychelles. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, the Naval War College, the Army War College, Mhow and the Royal College of Defence Studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command</span>

Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) is the head of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the first and only Tri-service theater command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dairy in India</span> Dairy in India

Dairy plays a significant part in numerous aspects of Indian society, including cuisine, religion, culture, and the economy.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Military Farms Services". Indian Army. Retrieved 2 Feb 2018.
  2. ↑ "Colonial-Era Military Farms Face Closure". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  3. 1 2 3 "Army's military farms to be shut, flag ceremony for closure at Delhi Cantt".
  4. ↑ "Recommendations of Shekatkar Committee". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  5. ↑ "Ministry of Defence approves first phase of reforms in The Armed Forces". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  6. ↑ "Push for Army reforms: 57,000 posts to be rejigged, 39 military farms to be shut - Times of India ►". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  7. ↑ "All military farms to shut shop by 2017 - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  8. ↑ Gautam, R. P. (2009). Attractive Career In Defence. Prabhat Prakashan. p. 27. ISBN   9788188322718.
  9. ↑ "Frieswal project: Present status and expectations for the future". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  10. ↑ "Only army can take this cow vow". The Telegraph . Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  11. ↑ "Army directed to shut 39 military farms". The Hindu . 2017-08-08. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  12. ↑ "After 130 years, government decides to shut down all 39 military farms". India Today. 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  13. ↑ "Maharashtra buys 2,139 sick cows from military farms".
  14. ↑ "Maharashtra to buy 3,200 military cows as army shuts down its farms". Hindustan Times .
  15. ↑ "Only army can take this cow vow".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.