Guwahati, Jan 21: Barpeta District Jail in Assam has become an unlikely destination for agricultural innovation, boasting India’s first berry farm within a prison.
If you’re looking for a lush, fruit-laden berry farm in Assam, you’ll find it not in a sprawling estate, but behind the walls of this correctional facility.
The farm, home to 200 trees bearing rare varieties like Apple Berry, Miss India, and Thailand Berry, is the centrepiece of an ambitious rehabilitation initiative launched just a year ago. The project is the brainchild of District Jail Superintendent Pranjal Kumar Sharma and Jailer Nilutpal Kakati, who envisioned blending farming with reform.
“This is no ordinary jail. It’s a model of transformation,” says Additional District Commissioner Jayanta Bora, who recently toured the facility. “The berry farm is a landmark initiative, teaching inmates valuable skills while giving them a fresh start in life.”
Spread across 127 bighas, the jail’s agricultural landscape includes more than berries. Inmates cultivate mustard, ginger, brinjal, radish, and cauliflower. There’s even a mini bee farm, a fishery, newly planted strawberries and 1,000 rose shrubs. Together, these ventures have already generated over ₹1 lakh in revenue for the government.
Once known primarily for its paddy fields, the jail now boasts a vibrant mixed-cropping model that generates revenue and equips inmates with farming skills to rebuild their lives.
This remarkable shift is credited to the efforts of District Jail Superintendent Pranjal Kumar Sharma and Jailer Nilutpal Kakati. Since its launch a year ago, the initiative has earned over ₹1 lakh in revenue for the government, while directly involving the jail’s 413 inmates (368 men and 45 women) in meaningful work.
“This is more than farming—it’s a second chance,” says Additional District Commissioner Jayanta Bora, who recently visited the jail. “The skills inmates acquire here can inspire them to lead honest, productive lives after release.”
The project’s success has drawn widespread acclaim, with jail officials Nilutpal Kakati and Hiteshwar Hazarika receiving recognition from the Assam government for their visionary leadership.
Beyond its economic benefits, the initiative has had a profound psychological impact. Jail authorities report that working in nature has created a tranquil environment, fostering a sense of purpose among inmates.
Barpeta District Jail is setting a benchmark for prison reforms in India, proving that correctional facilities can be places of growth, learning, and transformation. What was once a symbol of confinement is now a flourishing example of renewal—one crop, one skill, and one life at a time.
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