Date:15/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/15/stories/2007031500120400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Military farms to be closed

Ravi Sharma

Bangalore: In yet another move to make the Army lean and mean, the 180-acre Hebbal Military Farm and the 483-acre Agram Military Farm are being disbanded. The closing of the two farms that supply milk and butter to Defence personnel and their families stationed in Bangalore, will also free up space for Defence establishments that have in recent years either been moved to the city or have been formed here.

Confirming the closure of the farms to The Hindu, Commander of the Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area Brigadier Clement Samuel said that it was cheaper to procure diary products in the market rather than maintain specialised and dedicated farms.

While the Hebbal farm has been home to milch cattle, the milk chilling and diary products processing units are at Agram. Fodder is grown at the Agram Military Farm.

The Hebbal farm will become home to the Pioneer Corp Training Centre. The Corp has been moved out of its location in Bangalore after the Parachute Regiment Training Centre was moved from Agra.

The Agram farm is likely to house the Army Software Development Centre, now at Mhow, and also a Naval unit.