Anantnag woman breaks stereotypes, builds sweet success with beekeeping venture

Dooru, Nov 5: In the serene hills of Hillar village in Dooru, south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, the gentle hum of honeybees tells a story of grit, resilience, and quiet revolution. At 37, Nusrat Jan, once a tenth-grade dropout married young, is now a successful entrepreneur running her own honey-processing unit - RAHAT Organic Honey - that produces several quintals of pure honey each year.

“Three years ago, I took a government loan of Rs 10 lakh under Prime Minister's Employment Guarantee Program (PMEGP) to set up this unit,” Nusrat said, smiling as she watched workers pour golden honey through a filtration machine. “My husband had started small with just 200 beehives, and now we have 400 boxes spread over 3.5 Kanals of land.”

Her unit employs four people, and Nusrat herself works alongside them. During the harsh winters, she and her husband transport bee colonies to Rajasthan — a costly and demanding process, but one she calls “an investment in survival.”

For Nusrat, the journey was far from easy. “At one time, I never imagined I could step into business,” she said. “But with passion and the full support of my in-laws and husband, I stepped out of my home and began my beekeeping venture.”

Her husband, Nazir Ahmad Wani, who was already into beekeeping, became her first teacher. “It took me seven years to learn the process,” she recalled. “Now, our honey is supplied across Kashmir and even outside the Union Territory.” Last year, Nusrat installed a modern filtration machine to improve product quality. “That transparency helped us grow,” she said. “People trust pure honey.”

Beekeeping in Kashmir has long been dominated by men, but Nusrat has carved out her own space. “In the beginning, people discouraged me. They said a woman couldn’t handle it,” she said. “But the mindset is changing. Women are showing they can do anything.”

Balancing family and business, Nusrat begins her mornings managing her household before heading to her factory. “Yes, it’s tough - but it’s possible,” she said. “Fear is the first barrier you must break.”

Under RAHAT Organic Honey, Nusrat now operates several stalls along the Dooru–Verinag and Anantnag–Kokernag roads, which are attracting a growing number of customers.

The business unit produces both white and wild honey, which are exported to several states in India, and keeps prices lower than commercial brands. “Our honey is pure and local,” she said. “And Kashmir’s climate makes it ideal for beekeeping.” As her brand grows, Nusrat wants to inspire other women. “In this era of inflation, women should step out and start small businesses,” she said. “You don’t need to dream big - just start and keep going.” For Nusrat, every drop of honey is more than a product-it’s proof that sweetness can come from struggle, and success from courage.