Prayagraj: Naini Central Jail has transformed into a thriving vegetable garden, where inmates are actively engaged in cultivating vegetables, especially potatoes. The produce is not only meeting the jail’s needs, but also being distributed to five other correctional facilities in the state. This year alone, the inmates have successfully grown over 1,300 quintals of premium-quality potatoes.A significant portion of the harvested potatoes is being distributed to five district jails — Prayagraj, Mahoba, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, and Banda. Notably, the inmates engaged in vegetable cultivation are being rewarded with remuneration for their efforts, recognizing their hard work and contribution.Rang Bahadur Patel, senior superintendent of the Naini Central Jail, told TOI, “Having adequate farming land inside the campus of Naini Central Jail, groups of inmates are engaged in vegetable cultivation like potato, spinach, pumpkin, asparagus bean (chauri), and other vegetables throughout the year.” He said, “This year, there has been a record cultivation of potatoes (1300 quintals), whereas the production was 1100 quintals last year. Moreover, around 275 quintals of other vegetables were cultivated.”Patel said, “Jail authorities don’t purchase vegetables from outside, but manage to grow an adequate amount of seasonal vegetables inside the jail campus throughout the year… With Naini Central Jail having a vast agricultural land inside the campus, we have been supplying vegetables to other district jails. There is an adequate arrangement of seeds, fertilisers, and irrigation supply. The health of inmates engaged in crop cultivation is regularly examined.“Jail authorities maintained that they are fast adopting organic vegetable farming and also learning new skills and contributing to the jail’s economy. “This initiative has proven successful, with inmates cultivating a variety of vegetables and earning a significant income through the sale of their produce. The Naini Central Jail in the state has also seen success in its farming programme, harvesting tonnes of vegetables this fiscal year. Inmates are also being trained in farming or crop cultivation, with the goal of providing them with meaningful and creative activities and preparing them for life outside of prison. These examples demonstrate that prison farming programs can be a valuable tool for rehabilitation and economic empowerment for inmates,” they added.