Baramulla, Aug 25: As the valley is grappling with limited job opportunities, the Department of Agriculture in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is spearheading efforts to empower the youth by aiding them in the establishment of cutting-edge greenhouses and other agricultural enterprises.
One shining example of this transformative initiative is the success story of Aamir Gani Lone, a resident of Khadinayar in Baramulla.
After completing his graduation in 2018, Aamir found himself hopping between various jobs without witnessing substantial growth. However, his fortunes took a positive turn in 2023 when he joined forces with the Department of Agriculture.
This collaboration enabled him to establish a state-of-the-art high-tech greenhouse, breathing life into his aspirations.
The Deputy Commissioner’s Office took to Twitter to highlight Aamir’s journey with the hashtag #YouthEmpowermentJK.
“In partnership with the agriculture department, Aamir set up a high-tech greenhouse alongside 20 bee colonies, propelling his economic prospects forward.”
Reflecting on his journey, Aamir expressed gratitude to the agriculture department for the unprecedented success he achieved.
He recalled his struggles with intermittent earnings from various ventures and the hesitation he felt when considering costly business endeavors like poultry, sheep, or cattle farming.
“One fine morning, I stumbled upon an announcement on Facebook about the agriculture department’s support for agribusiness and high-tech greenhouses and grabbed this opportunity,” Aamir said.
Since January 2023, Aamir’s greenhouse has produced an impressive 70,000 plants spanning 7-8 seedling varieties.
“Besides seedlings, the greenhouse produced 2 quintals and 30 kilos of tomatoes and 1 quintal 20 kg of knolkhol also which earned me a good amount,” he added.
Aamir attributes his success to unwavering dedication and determination, underlining that with the right mindset, everything else falls into place.
He highlighted the burgeoning profitability of agriculture, citing the example of terrace vegetation farming gaining popularity across the nation.
Financial gains soon followed his efforts, as Aamir earned a noteworthy sum of 1 lakh 16 thousand rupees within just a month from the sale of 70,000 seedlings.
“Overcoming initial apprehensions, I found customers flocking to my unit, and I was even able to offer produce at reasonable rates, exceeding my own expectations,” he further added.
Beyond the greenhouse, Aamir has also ventured into beekeeping, maintaining 20 colonies of bees with aspirations for future growth.
He wholeheartedly credited the Agriculture Department in Baramulla for their unwavering support and timely guidance, which played an instrumental role in his achievements.
With 14 marlas of land dedicated to his high-tech endeavor, Aamir christened his enterprise “Lone Hi Tech Khadinayar,” symbolizing his dedication to modernizing agricultural practices while fostering local growth.
