32-year-old Asiya Akbar from Nusoo Bandipora in Srinagar – a war widow – has become an epitome of success in the face of hardships. From being a helpless lady to being known as the uncrowned queen of mushroom rooftop cultivation, Asiya has come a long way.

In 2015, Asiya’s world shattered when her husband, serving the Indian Army, was killed in military action. The young widow braved all odds for the sake of her two children and remarried in 2017 to Fayaz Ahmed Lone, an ex-serviceman. Life took a sharp turn when her second husband, Fayaz Ahmad Lone, lost his house to a blaze in 2019. “As we stood outside our razed house, it seemed that life had come to a screeching halt,” said Asiya while talking to The Voices at her residence now in Bandipora. She has to undergo plastic surgery after sustaining burns in the incident.

The family returned to Asiya’s parents to start life afresh. With the help of her husband, Fayaz Ahmed Lone, and father Mohd. Akbar settled and started cultivating crops on the roof of her parental house.

Guidance from the Indian Army

“In 2019, my martyred husband’s unit – Army Kupwara paid a unique tribute to those who had laid their lives for the nation. The unit held a meeting for the widows of war veterans. Herein, the commandant suggested that I start a mushroom unit, and on his reference, I met the District Agriculture Officer at Bandipora,” Asiya shared.

The absence of adequate land for farming was a painful realisation, but she didn’t stop. With guidance from the local agriculture department, she decided to turn a room in her house into a mushroom unit. This was the start of a successful journey.

Following the triumph of mushroom cultivation. Asiya decided to use vermicompost for growing vegetables on her rooftop. When she poured water on the seedlings, the compost and soil started skittering, which made her think of innovative techniques.

With guidance and support from her father, she bought crates, filled them with soil and vermicompost and started cultivating different kinds of seedlings. She sold the produce in the local market.

A Dream Becomes Reality

“Initially, I earned around 6000-7000 rupees in a month. Then I decided to add vegetables and spices, which doubled my earnings to 15000 in a month,” said Asiya. Known as ‘Kashmir’s Rooftop Farmer’, Asiya sells around 40-50 kg of mushrooms and 100 kg of fresh vegetables and spices every month to customers in Bandipora and several parts of north Kashmir.

Her farming unit supports her family of six and has become an inspiration for many local women. “After seeing the success of my rooftop farm, several women have started cultivating vegetables in their kitchen gardens. They used to buy seedlings from me, which helped them cultivate fresh vegetables. Now they don’t have to buy from markets at high rates, especially during winters”, Asiya added.

Meanwhile, Javaid Ahmad Samoon, the former agriculture officer at Bandipora who worked with Asiya, said that her mushroom unit has become an inspiration for many educated girls, who are following in the same path. “The district has around 12 successful mushroom units now, which have been guided by Asiya. She not only motivates these girls but remains available and provides guidance,” he added.

Asiya urged the girls to come forward to start their own units instead of waiting for government jobs. Asiya’s story is one of resilience and hard work. One that should be taught in school textbooks. She is an inspiration not just for the women of Bandipora but for women across the country, noted Javaid.

Copy Editor – Saavani Shinde