Sania Zehra, a young entrepreneur, from tranquil valleys of Kashmir, is achieving great heights in the world of apiculture. She has turned her passion of honey production into a large-scale profiting business. Earning quite a good amount monthly, Sania is also known as Kashmir’s “Bee Queen”
RECITE YOU is here to share her inspiring and empowering journey let’s explore more about Sania.
The Beginning
Sania’s exploration into beekeeping began at the age of 12. As she grew up watching her grandfather, who was a seasoned beekeeper and was inspired by him. What started fascinating Sania was the multifaceted world of bees and the essential role they play in the ecosystem.
Transforming a Family Business
At the age of 16, she actively joined her family’s beekeeping business in Balhama, near Srinagar. She with her dedication and passion revolutionized a small-scale business into Kashmir’s most successful production enterprises of honey.
Building Her Own Venture
With the help of 32 bee colonies, Sania started her independent beekeeping journey, which she gained through a government supporting program. With strategies and keen business sense, Sania expanded her business into a profitable venture.
What has been instrumental in boosting honey production is her practice of migratory beekeeping that is moving bee colonies to regions specifically Sona Marg, Rajasthan and Punjab. This helps in pollination of crops, benefiting local farmers and ensures better quality of honey. Her sale boosted as she diversified her product range, delivering premium organic honey, royal jelly and pollen, engaging customers all over India and even internationally, consisting of Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Qatar
Sania Zehra Conquers Challenges in Beekeeping and Business
Beekeeping is a demanding business and has its own difficulties. Sania has to overcome numerous obstacles such as constant threat of pesticides harming the bees and fluctuating weather conditions in Kashmir. However, she not just endured but prospered in this demanding industry by her perseverance and ability to adapt.
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Gaining acceptance in a male dominated field was the most significant barrier. Almost everyone around her doubted whether a young woman could manage such a business. Yet through her hard work and dedication, Sania has silenced the skeptical minds. And proved knowledge matters more than gender in entrepreneurship.
Breaking Stereotypes
Sania being Kashmir’s first female beekeeper, has broken gender barriers in a society dominated by male. She is also the founder of an empowerment group for women, where she educates and help them access resources from government to start their own small-scale business.
Transforming Lives
She has not only inspired the young generation of Kashmir but also contributed on its economic development. Through organizing workshops and training sessions, she encourages others to build their business and to take up beekeeping as an option of sustainable livelihood. Rural areas in India lack women employment, only limited opportunities are given to them. Sania’s life a real-life guide which proves women can achieve great heights and become self-sufficient when given chance.
Sania’s achievement has not gone unnoticed. She has been covered in various media outlets, highlighting her remarkable work. Not only her but also her organic honey has received widespread recognition, earning commendations for its purity and taste.
She has been invited by different government and private organizations to share her ups and downs to influence younger generation across India. She has won several awards due to her contribution to sustainable agriculture and women empowerment.
Sania Zehra’s inspiring work is not just about business, but about her passion, resilience, empowerment and environmental consciousness. She is a proof that with passion and dedication anyone can build a meaningful impact in their community, regions and beyond.
