A wave of transformation is gently rolling through the district of Shopian, driven by the determination of a young woman named Asmat Jan. At just 21, Asmat has become an inspiration in her village, Borihallan Payeen, significantly uplifting the local potato farming industry.
A recent graduate from the Government Degree College Shopian, Asmat possesses a keen vision aimed at economic empowerment. This ambition led her to spearhead the formation of the Potato Women Producers Group—a collective of local female farmers striving to improve traditional farming practices.
The spark for this initiative was ignited by observations in Hirpora, a nearby village known for its exceptional potato produce. Unlike the women in Hirpora, those in Borihallan had long struggled to market their harvest effectively. They relied heavily on outdated methods that offered limited financial returns. However, Asmat, with her innovative spirit and a heart full of hope, embarked on a mission to shift this paradigm.
Training under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) equipped Asmat with the tools needed to empower her peers. Uniting 25 determined women, she formed a producer group that successfully tapped into new marketing avenues, ensuring better pricing and higher profits for their potatoes. Asmat explains, “Earlier, women farmers faced difficulties in selling their potatoes, but now we have a structured system that benefits everyone.”
The group’s impressive journey has witnessed success beyond expectations, drawing support from the government through NRLM, which has allowed them to operate fruitfully over the past three years. The collective has not merely stayed at marketing; plans are afoot for expansion into potato processing. Their ambition sets sights on the Integrated Farming Cluster (IFC) program, planning to build a potato processing unit involving around 250 women. Through this venture, they aim to produce a range of potato-based products like chips, spring rolls, fries, and fritters.
Setting up this processing unit will usher in a new era of entrepreneurship for these women, offering them a platform to create their unique brand made from the prized Hirpora potatoes. Equipment for this project is gradually arriving, and the enthusiasm and confidence among these women are palpable.
District Programme Manager of NRLM Shopian, Arsheed Ahmad Bhat, reflects on the broader impact of Asmat’s initiative. He regards the success of the Potato Women Producers Group as a remarkable victory, transcending agricultural productivity to challenge and transform gender norms.
