Success Story  | Pulwama girl shows the way with organic farming

Srinagar, Nov 21: In the heart of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district liesBungund, a village where the aroma of freshly grown organic vegetables mingles with the crisp mountain air.

IshratNazir, a 26-year-old girl along with 55 other SHG members has taken up the daunting task of growing organic vegetables in the village.

Ishrat, who holds a nursing degree, passionately pursues organic farming, a practice that has now become a source of livelihood for her and the other SHG members, all aged between 18 to 30 years.

She said that the primary organic vegetables grown in the village span over a hundred kanal and include cauliflower, tomatoes, garlic, and capsicum.

“We are cultivating five organic vegetables. If we cultivate one organic vegetable on one kanal land, we earn Rs 35,000 per kanal each season,” Ishrat said.

She said that organic farming was not only lucrative but also a significant commitment to a sustainable future.

“Initially we have to face challenges, but with the assistance of the Jammu and Kashmir National Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKNRLM), the SHG members overcame their confusion and successfully adopted organic farming practices,” Ishrat said.

She said that despite the odds, organic farming proved successful for them.

“We use cow dung and other natural manure to grow vegetables. Organic farming can be both environmentally friendly and economically viable,” she said.

Ishrat and other members of the village sell organic produce mostly in the local market.

“We have customers in Jammu as well. Our marketing is not that good. Otherwise, people usually prefer organic produce now,” she said.

Another SHG member, who is also part of the group, said, “Our generation has a responsibility to ensure a sustainable future. Organic farming is not just a job, it is a commitment to preserving our environment for the generations to come.”

She said that they had created a close-knit community that not only works together but also learns together.

“It’s a beautiful journey of growth, both for us and the land,” she said.

District Programme Manager NRLM PulwamaArsheed Ahmad Bhat told Greater Kashmir that organic produce was becoming an integral part of regular food consumption.