India to close colonial-era military farms

ALLAHABAD: Under a hot afternoon sun workers scrub down cows at the Allahabad Military Farm, the latest hangover of India's colonial past being forced into the 21st century, reports AFP.

The 700-acre (285-hectare) farm in the city of 1.1 million people, along with 38 other military farms set up by the country's former British rulers, is to be closed in coming weeks.

The yellow and white Victorian-era buildings will probably be demolished while the 500 cows face an uncertain future.

The Allahabad farm, set up in 1889, is the oldest of those once used by the British to house the cows transported to Asia to provide milk for the troops in city barracks.

The government announced in August that it would shut the military farms to cut costs and better use its vast defence land portfolio.

The 39 farms are spread over 20,000 acres in all and include prime real estate in New Delhi and other big cities.

 They have about 25,000 cattle and hundreds of workers.

Over time, their upkeep has become expensive -- the farms cost more than $46 million a year to run -- according to media reports. It is also cheaper to get milk for the 1.2 million-strong Indian army from cooperatives.

 

India to close colonial-era military farms

ALLAHABAD: Under a hot afternoon sun workers scrub down cows at the Allahabad Military Farm, the latest hangover of Indias colonial past being forced into the 21st century, reports AFP. The 700-acre (285-hectare) farm in the city of 1.1 million people, along with 38 other military farms set up by the countrys former British rulers, is to be closed in coming weeks. The yellow and white Victorian-era buildings will probably be demolished while the 500 cows face an uncertain future. The Allahabad farm, set up in 1889, is the oldest of those once used by the British to house the cows transported to Asia to provide milk for the troops in city barracks. The government announced in August that it would shut the military farms to cut costs and better use its vast defence land portfolio. The 39 farms are spread over 20,000 acres in all and include prime real estate in New Delhi and other big cities. They have about 25,000 cattle and hundreds of workers. Over time, their upkeep has become expensive -- the farms cost more than $46 million a year to run -- according to media reports. It is also cheaper to get milk for the 1.2 million-strong Indian army from cooperatives.