Jahangeer Ganaie

Women’s Empowerment: Tahira Bashir from Kulgam earns name, livelihood through Mushroom cultivation

Women’s Empowerment: Tahira Bashir from Kulgam earns name, livelihood through Mushroom cultivation
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Kulgam: Tahira Bashir, from Qaimoh village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district has taken a stand to become financially independent and is growing organic mushrooms to earn her livelihood.

She has started a business of Mushroom cultivation at home and is earning an annual income of Rs 75000.

“I received training for mushroom cultivation through the agricultural department in Kashmir and subsequently established my own business venture near my residence,” she told Kashmir Vision.

She attributed her success to the NRLM department.

“I came through different schemes through NRLM that benefited me a lot,” she said.

She thanked her trainers Mudasir, Javaid Ahmad and agricultural incharge Shakeel Ahmad who supported her throughout her journey.

“I started mushroom cultivation in a room at my home and harvested mushrooms locally known as ‘Heddar’ in my first attempt,” she said.

After getting a good response, she approached the agriculture department for more mushroom bags.

“Through cultivation, I not only earned a livelihood for my family but I also helped many people in doing marketing of mushrooms,” she said, adding that she did marketing of five such units as also spend her earnings on her necessities as well

“I can fulfill my aim to become an educated business woman,” she said.

“With this business, I feel financially independent and many other educated women of the area have got inspired who are planning to start this business as well,” she said.

Before setting up her own venture, Tahira’s experience with her financial conditions drew her to start mushroom cultivation.

The packed organic mushroom boxes are sold in vegetable markets between Rs 25 and Rs 50, she said.

Mushrooms have become a famous vegetable in Kashmir, and over the years, Mushroom Yakhni, a delicious curry cooked with yoghurt and spices, has been introduced in Kashmiri multi-cuisine, Wazwan.

With her successful attempt of starting her own venture, Tahira has become an inspiration for hundreds of unemployed women.

“”This is very easy and safe for unemployed youth especially for girls to start a mushroom unit and earn their own livelihood and become independent,” she said.

 

 


Jahangeer Ganaie

Jahangeer Ganaie is a reporter and covers regional news and can be contacted [email protected]

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