Milking it to success: Shopian woman fought all odds, becomes successful dairy farmer
Shopian: A young woman from south Kashmir’s Shopian district has braved all odds to become a successful dairy farmer and support her family financially.
Asiya Bashir daughter of Bashir Ahmad Zai resident of Aglar village in Zainapora tehsil of Shopian district has six cows in her daily farm which she has established last just adjacent to her home.
Aasiya said that she is pursuing bachelors degree and in order to support her family financially she had started dairy farm with the help of Animal husbandry Shopian under Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) of the department.
After successfully working in the farm for around a year now, Asiya owns six cows who generate around 100 litres of milk on daily basis which she sells through the Jammu and Kashmir Milk Producers Cooperative Limited.
She said that she has kept a local labour there as well who helps her in taking care of the cows and their calves and is hopeful that in coming time she will be able to increase the number of cows as well and make the unit even more commercially viable.
Asiya thanked the government for keeping such facilities and schemes available through which unemployed youth are able to start their own units and earn their livelihood.
“I have worked day and night since many months now and during initial period faced many challenges but it was possible only because of the active support, guidance and training of animal husbandry department to overcome all these challenges,” she said.
She added that with the help of automated milking machine, milk cooler and other machines provided by the department her job has been made convenient and hygienic as well.
She added that educated youth of J&K shouldn’t remain idle and waste their time in search of government jobs only.
“The youth should start their units with the help provided by various government departments and if they work hard they can easily earn their livelihood and help their families financially,” Asiya advised the young population.
Her father Bashir Ahmad also said that unemployed youth can easily start any unit with the help of government at an earliest so as to earn livelihood easily.
He said that at present her daughter is supporting her family financially.
“We foresee her moving ahead and making a name for herself as she is planning to use new machines and equipments so as to make her work even easier,” he added.
He said that the new technologies will help her in reaping more benefits with reduced input.
Jahangeer Ganaie
Jahangeer Ganaie is a reporter and covers regional news and can be contacted [email protected]