Agri-Horticultural society continues to serve on ‘no profit – no loss’ motto

Hyderabad: The Agri-Horticultural Society (AHS) inside the premises of Public Gardens in Nampally, continues to cater to the needs of plant lovers for ‘no profit – no loss’, through its readily available fruit variety plants at a very nominal price, for the last 70 years. 

The society mostly comprising of retired officials from Agriculture and Horticulture departments and graduates from the same subjects, besides professors and researchers meet regularly to come out with innovative methods to stay connected with the plant lovers through their updated knowledge. One of its life members was Chief of Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif (94) who passed away on Monday and his wife Bilkis Idris Latif, who died in 2017. 

“The couple used to visit, whenever they were in the City. Bilkis was fond of gardening and was seen at regular intervals,” said Dr Syed Ismail, vice-chairman, AHS. 
One of the main sources of income for the society is selling the plants, particularly the fruit varieties to interested persons who visit the Society premises spread across two acres. These plants are procured from trained rural youth who are certified agriculturists. With the help of mother plants, they develop saplings in villages near Sanga Reddy. For instance, the mango varieties are sold from Rs 35 to Rs 250 depending on the size and variety. The coconut plant is sold for Rs 100, guava and pomegranate for Rs 50. 

In recent years, the society also started selling vermi-compost based potting mixes, fertilizer at a nominal price. The society members who have done a research on the latest methods adopted for coming up with compost after visiting manufacturing units have decided to sell this manure. Training classes The AHS which also conducts classes on the horticulture related skills in vogue continue to organise three-day classes thrice in a month. This month, they are planning to organise ‘mango pickle’ making classes. 

Home gardening, vegetable carving, medicinal plants & their uses, Ikebana & flower arrangement, growing of bonsai plants and growing of vegetable & flower are some of the subjects on which regular classes are conducted. “Indoor gardening and roof gardening is a viable option in the cities like Hyderabad, where there is much less space for open lawns,” added Ismail.

BY Md Nizamuddin