From skepticism to success, Mumtaza creates jobs, breaks barriers
TAUSEEF AHMAD
SRINAGAR, Jan 14: At a time when thousands of educated and uneducated youth across Kashmir spend years waiting in long queues for government jobs or short-term contractual employment, a 35-year-old woman from north Kashmir’s Bandipora district has quietly scripted an inspiring success story rooted in self-reliance, hard work, and resilience.
Mumtaza Begum, a resident of Watrina village in Bandipora, has transformed a modest sheep-rearing initiative into a flourishing livestock enterprise, proving that determination and entrepreneurship can offer a sustainable alternative to joblessness. What began five years ago with just 20 sheep has today grown into a thriving farm housing over 500 sheep, making it one of the notable private livestock ventures in the district.
Beyond earning her own livelihood, Mumtaza has emerged as a job creator in a region grappling with high unemployment. Her farm currently provides regular employment to several local men, including shepherds from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, who earn daily wages along with food and basic facilities. In a district where stable income sources are limited, her initiative has become a crucial support system for multiple families.
Mumtaza’s journey, however, was far from easy. In a society where agriculture-related and livestock work is traditionally viewed as male-dominated, her decision to enter sheep farming was initially met with skepticism, ridicule, and social resistance.
“People questioned why a woman would choose this kind of work. Some even mocked me and doubted whether I could survive in this field,” Mumtaza recalled while speaking to Kashmir Despatch.
With no formal training in sheep husbandry, she relied entirely on hands-on experience. She spent long hours tending to the animals, learning about breeding, feeding, disease management, and seasonal migration, often working in harsh weather conditions.
“I learned everything on my own through experience. It was physically demanding and mentally exhausting, but I never gave up,” she said.
Her persistence eventually bore fruit when the Sheep Husbandry Department extended support to her under a government-sponsored scheme. The assistance helped her expand her livestock unit, improve infrastructure, and gradually scale up operations.
Over the years, Mumtaza’s small venture evolved into a full-fledged enterprise. Today, her farm not only contributes to the local economy but also stands as a symbol of women’s growing participation in sectors once considered off-limits to them.
“I always believed that hard work would bring results. Today, I am grateful that I can take care of my family and also help others earn their livelihood,” she said.
Encouraging unemployed youth to follow a similar path, Mumtaza emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship and utilizing government welfare schemes.
“The government has several schemes from which unemployed youth can benefit and start their own units. Instead of waiting endlessly for jobs, youths should take advantage of these schemes. There is nothing better than being the owner of your own business rather than working from 10 to 4 for someone else,” she said.
Her success has significantly altered perceptions within her community. Once questioned for stepping into a male-dominated profession, Mumtaza is now widely respected and regarded as a role model, particularly for women and young people in north Kashmir. Aspiring farmers, especially women, frequently visit her farm to seek guidance, motivation, and practical insights into livestock farming.
One of the workers employed at Mumtaza’s farm, a laborer from Rajouri, said that several workers are engaged at the farm in rotational shifts.
“We are earning a good income here. Earlier, I was working as a daily laborer, but for the past two years I have been working on this farm and I am satisfied. Such units do not only benefit the owner but also provide livelihood opportunities to many unemployed youths,” he said.
Confirming the growing participation of women in sheep farming, District Sheep Husbandry Officer Bandipora, Peer Irshad, told Kashmir Despatch that the district currently has around 20 successful women sheep farmers. He added that nearly 248 farmers benefited from government schemes last year alone.
“We have several schemes under which we provide units of 10, 50, 100, and even 200 sheep on a 50 percent subsidy for eligible farmers. Youth participation is increasing, and we have many success stories where not only the beneficiaries but also several others are earning their livelihood,” he said.
He further noted that although sheep farming was traditionally a male-dominated field, the trend is changing rapidly, with women and young entrepreneurs increasingly taking the lead.
Mumtaza Begum’s journey from a small flock of 20 sheep to a herd of over 500 stands as a powerful example of how courage, perseverance, and institutional support can transform lives—offering a roadmap for sustainable livelihoods in Kashmir’s rural economy.
