Kashmir Woman Scientist Quits PhD, Starts Farming Business That's Now Worth Lakhs

Hailing from central Kashmir¡¯s Budgam district, Insha Rasool left her PhD in Korea and came back in 2018 so as to pursue what she actually wanted to do and her dedication didn¡¯t let her fall.

Instgram/@homegreens_

Insha, who was pursuing Molecular Signalling from a South Korea University, wanted to explore ¡®organic farming¡¯.

That¡¯s how- Homegreens, a ¡®farm-to-fork¡¯ brand that she has built with her hard work over the last two years.

When she began her dream project, all she had was her ancestral land of 3.5 acres, on which her family used to grow crops and vegetables for self-consumption. She started approaching the farmers, purchased seeds and manure, and hired labourers to do the sowing, tilling and other such work.

Instgram/@homegreens_

Being a scientist by profession, she knew doing research was not enough to grow a crop. She spent months experimenting with different varieties of seeds in different seasons.

¡°I failed more than I succeeded. Sometimes the crop did not sprout, or the manure did not work, sometimes I put in extra water, or planted the seed in the wrong season. These experiments lasted beyond my deadline of six months. Eventually, I chose to stay in farming, and this decision turned out to be life changing,¡± Insha told The Better India.

Insha who is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, has lived in many places with greenery and lower temperatures. After living in Kashmir, Delhi and Bengaluru, she moved to South Korea, where the weather was more pleasant.

Instgram/@homegreens_

She said though her family had been in farming, she took interest in the profession only after a visit to a strawberry farm during her child¡¯s school activity.

¡°I was blown away by the incredible technology they used to grow fresh, colourful strawberries. I casually told my husband how great it would be if someone in Kashmir did the same. He said why wait for someone else when we have land. The decision to leave everything was after six months of rigorous planning and research,¡± she said.

Insha sells her crops on her Instagram and Facebook page. She claims that the majority of the produce is sold within 24 hours.

Instgram/@homegreens_

¡°I earned close to Rs 8 lakh in last November and December. We have been growing steadily. Our profits are also generated via frozen varieties of French beans and peas, as well as blanched sweet corn and tomatoes. We are able to sell throughout the year,¡± she told The Better India.

What is more interesting is that under her brand name, Insha has also collaborated with local farmers to sell exotic vegetables and value-added products like pickles across India.

The 32-year-old groups with an average of 15-20 farmers every month and offers them prices higher than the market rates, she adds.