Shopian woman turns barren land into thriving cherry orchard

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: In a fruit rich Malibugh village of Imamsahib hamlet in South Kashmir’s Shopian district, a 36-year-old Ameera Jan has transformed her life and livelihood by turning a once-barren patch of land into a thriving cherry orchard, producing thousands of boxes of fruit.

Her inspiring journey is powered by determination, hard work and crucial support from the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).

Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Ameera, a resident of Malibugh Imamsahib, who joined NRLM in 2017 and began her journey as a community mobilizer, said that she has been working with the department since 2017 and has learnt a lot from it.

“When I joined NRLM, I had no idea that one day I would be able to bring a dead piece of land back to life,” she said. “We had a barren land which was left uncultivated for years. After availing a loan under NRLM, we cleared the land, leveled it, and planted cherry trees.”

What started as a small effort has now become a flourishing enterprise. With nearly 200 fully grown cherry trees, the family initially harvested around 100 boxes of cherries. Over the years, through continuous effort and proper grafting of varieties like Stella, Italy, Jadi, and Holland, the production has surged to over 3,000 boxes annually.

“The earnings from cherry sales helped us manage household expenses and reinvest in expanding the orchard and improving fruit quality,” she said.

Ameera sells her produce at prices ranging Rs 250 to Rs 350 per kg, depending on the variety and demand. The Holland variety, known for its superior taste and shelf life, is currently in peak season.

However, despite the success, marketing remains a challenge. “Malibugh and Maligund are known as the cherry hubs of South Kashmir, but growers here don’t get the market access they deserve,” she said. “We have been sending our produce to different parts of India, but with proper government support, it can reach international markets as well.”

Ameera has now appealed to the government and NRLM authorities to establish a dedicated outlet or shop in Srinagar, where local growers can showcase and sell their fruit varieties round the year. “This would not only help me but also benefit dozens of Self Help Group (SHG) members associated with cherry cultivation. It will provide us with a better platform and ensure that our hard work gets due recognition.”

She stressed that with infrastructural support, cold storage facilities, and market linkages, cherry cultivation in Shopian can become a model for rural entrepreneurship and significantly uplifts the local economy.

“Cherry cultivation has changed my life. I want to see others like me empowered, earning their livelihood with dignity and contributing to Kashmir’s horticultural identity,” she said. —(KNO)