SEERAT-Un-NISA
BANDIPORA, Oct 28: In a remarkable tale of grit and innovation, a 32-year-old woman from north Kashmir’s Bandipora district has transformed her rooftop into a thriving vegetable and mushroom garden, earning between ₹30,000 and ₹40,000 a month while inspiring dozens of women across the region to pursue entrepreneurship.
Despite enduring several hardships in her life, Asiya Akbar, a resident of Bandipora, defied the odds to become a successful entrepreneur and farmer. From cultivating vegetables and spices to growing mushrooms and seedlings, Asiya has turned her modest home into a hub of sustainable farming, supporting her family of seven through her hard work and determination.
Her journey began in 2022 after she attended a short training programme organised by the Department of Agriculture. With limited resources and no prior farming experience, Asiya decided to start small by setting up a mushroom cultivation unit inside one of the rooms of her house.
“I started with just a few trays and a minimal investment,” Asiya told Kashmir Despatch. “The happiness I get from seeing other women visit my rooftop farm to learn about mushroom cultivation is beyond words.”
Encouraged by the success of her initial venture, Asiya soon converted her unused rooftop into a productive kitchen garden, where she began cultivating a variety of vegetables, spices, and plant seedlings. The fresh produce now finds buyers within her locality and in neighbouring areas, providing her with a steady monthly income.
“What was once an unused space now supports my family,” she said with a smile. “All a person needs to do is take the first step. We sell mushrooms in several parts of north Kashmir, and I handle the marketing myself. Many young women who started their own mushroom units in the past two years come to me for guidance.”
Asiya believes that small-scale farming ventures like hers can create viable livelihood options for women, especially at a time when government jobs are scarce. “Mushroom and vegetable cultivation can help girls earn a decent income from their homes,” she added.
Her father, Mohammad Akbar, expressed immense pride in his daughter’s accomplishments. “She not only supports our family financially but also teaches other women how to earn with dignity. At a time when many educated girls are struggling to find employment, Asiya has become a symbol of hope and resilience,” he said.
Buoyed by her success, Asiya now plans to expand her enterprise by introducing new mushroom varieties and packaging her produce for urban markets. “I want to prove that women in rural areas can become successful entrepreneurs too,” she said, standing proudly beside her father.
Officials from the Agriculture Department said Asiya’s success story has become an inspiration for many women across Bandipora. “Her work demonstrates how small-scale, space-efficient farming such as rooftop or mushroom cultivation can create sustainable livelihoods, particularly in regions like Kashmir where cultivable land is limited,” an official said.
The initiative has sparked keen interest among women in Bandipora and neighbouring villages, with many enrolling in training programmes to start their own ventures.
Asiya Akbar’s story stands as a shining example of how determination, innovation, and the intelligent use of limited space can turn challenges into opportunities — growing not just crops, but a future full of empowerment and economic independence.
