From exotic birds to mushrooms and dairy empires, Kashmiri women like Shaziya, Gulshana, and Tahira are transforming the valley’s agricultural landscape—with grit, innovation, and a determination to create jobs where none exist.
In the apple-laden hills and saffron-scented air of South Kashmir, where conflict and unemployment often dominate the narrative, a quieter but powerful transformation is unfolding.
It’s not being led by multinationals or policy pundits, but by women—armed with education, courage, and an unshakable belief in self-reliance. These women are turning soil into strategy, farms into businesses, and age-old stereotypes into stories of change.
From Kiwis to Emus
One such woman is Syed Shaziya Lateef, a soft-spoken but fiercely driven law graduate from Molu, a small village in the Shopian district. With degrees in LLB and LLM under her belt, she seemed destined for courtrooms or academia. Instead, she found herself knee-deep in compost and crop rows—by choice.
Her pivot came not from failure, but from vision. “I couldn’t find a job despite my education,” says Shaziya. “But instead of leaving the valley or waiting endlessly for a government post, I decided to create opportunities where I lived.”
Today, Shaziya oversees a dynamic agro-enterprise that functions more like an ecosystem than a farm. High-density apple orchards, grape and kiwi vines, fish ponds for trout and carp, hydroponic vegetable units, and even vermi-composting beds coexist with poultry pens and a newly added emu enclosure.
The emu, an Australian bird almost never seen in North India, was introduced to Kashmir by Shaziya in 2024—making headlines and social media buzz. “A pair costs over Rs. 1.5 lakh. Everyone said I was crazy. But they consume leftover farm waste, require minimal upkeep, and are highly profitable if you manage them right,” she says.
These 5-foot-tall flightless birds, usually found in the dry plains of South India, are now being raised in the temperate belt of Kashmir—thriving on organic vegetable scraps and apple peels. Their meat and oil are considered medicinal in many cultures, adding value to their novelty.
Shaziya’s model is rooted in sustainability. No chemical fertilisers are used. Feed is organic. Water is recycled across units. The result? A farm that not only feeds her own family but also employs 20 people, indirectly supporting dozens more in the community.
Her work has not gone unnoticed. She has received the Innovative Woman Entrepreneur Award from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s zonal body, ICAR-ATARI, and a letter of appreciation from the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. She also represented the region’s agro-entrepreneurs during the G20 event held in Srinagar in 2023, speaking on women-led innovation in agriculture.
Yet, like any entrepreneur, she faces obstacles. The influx of cheap poultry from Punjab has undermined her own poultry operations. “Our cost per chick is almost double due to harsh weather, transport, and feed costs. We need government support to ensure fair pricing,” she says, adding that policies must reflect the realities of high-altitude farming.
From Panchayat Awareness to Dairy Empire
Further south in Pulwama, Gulshana—a dairy farmer with little formal education—has become a beacon for local women seeking financial independence. What started as a modest venture with one cow a decade ago has grown into a dairy farm supplying over 150,000 litres of milk annually.
“I attended a farming awareness session organised by the Panchayat. That day, I realised I could do this too,” she recalls.
With help from the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS), Gulshana steadily built her herd to ten high-yielding cows. The scheme supports not just livestock purchase, but also milk ATMs, chilling units, transportation, and organic waste management systems such as vermi-compost.
She also availed benefits under the National Livestock Mission (NLM), which aims to enhance per-animal productivity, promote small-scale entrepreneurship, and improve feed and breed quality across India.
Her dairy now supports 10 families, offering jobs in cattle rearing, fodder preparation, cleaning, and delivery. Her success has led to more women from her village attending KVK workshops, inspired by her journey from self-doubt to leadership.
A Shed for a Farm
In Kulgam, Tahira, a young woman with no land of her own, is showing that even a shed-sized space can be a game-changer. What began as an experiment in mushroom farming has evolved into a year-round income source.
“People laughed when I said I was growing mushrooms in my backyard. Now they ask how to start their own units,” she says.
With training from the Department of Agriculture and KVK, Tahira began cultivating button and oyster mushrooms. She now sells to local restaurants, wellness stores, and urban markets. She even supplies value-added products like dried mushrooms and ready-to-cook packs.
The key? Low space requirement and high yield. “Mushrooms need just moisture and darkness—not acres of land. And they’re in demand.”
Tahira’s business employs five other women, and she frequently hosts school and college students for training sessions—turning her farm into an informal agro-classroom.
Integrated Farming: A Buffer Against Uncertainty
All three women advocate integrated farming as a shield against market volatility and climate disruptions. When one sector dips, the others fill in. For example, poultry sales peak in winter, vegetables thrive in summer, fish farming runs year-round, and fruit harvesting fills the autumn calendar.
This diversification ensures year-long income, while maximising the use of land, labour, and natural resources. The resilience it brings is especially crucial in conflict-affected, high-altitude regions like Kashmir, where political uncertainties and climate risks are constant.
“Integrated farming isn’t just smart—it’s survival,” says Shaziya. “It keeps us afloat even when one crop or stream fails.”
In a place often viewed through the lens of conflict and dependency, these women are rewriting Kashmir’s rural story. They are educated, innovative, and fiercely independent. They’re not waiting for jobs—they’re creating them. Not begging for space—they’re owning it.
Once told that farming wasn’t for women, they now lead businesses that feed families, employ dozens, and redefine success in villages that once saw women only as homemakers.
“If we’re not allowed out, we build empires at home,” says Shaziya, summarising not just her journey, but the spirit of a movement.
Their stories are no longer footnotes in Kashmir’s development narrative—they are the main chapters. From apple orchards to mushroom sheds, from fish tanks to emu enclosures, these women are proving that Kashmir’s future may well be female, fearless, and farm grown.
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