New Delhi, April 1 -- As part of its drive to economise and concentrate on its primary role of being battle-ready, the Army on Wednesday formally closed its military farms all over the country.

These farms were set up in 1889 to supply milk and other products to the troops.

The shutting down of the military farms is an ongoing exercise undertaken by the Defence Ministry to make the Armed forces lean and mean. Besides farms, other services like maintenance of vehicles and related sectors are also closing down.

The staff employed in these units will be shifted to the main operational role of the Army, to be trained for meeting any threat, sources said here on Wednesday.

The formal ceremony to close the farms was held here on Wednesday....