by Babra Wani
SRINAGAR: During his first post-2019 visit to Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with several Kashmiri entrepreneurs. However, there was one, who requested a selfie and Modi obliged him.
The entrepreneur was a Pulwama resident Nazim Nazeer, who is currently running a successful honeybee business. He is basically from Samboora near Kakpora.
During his interaction, Nazim stated that when he was a class ten student he started with just two boxes of honeybees, that he kept on his rooftop, back in 2018. “When I used to come back from school I used to care for the boxes and then I started researching more about the honey cultivation and beekeeping through the internet,” Nazim told the Prime Minister.
In 2019, Nazim availed a government scheme under which he received 25 boxes on a 50 per cent subsidy, “I managed to extract 75 kilograms of honey through those 25 boxes. Back then I did not have any knowledge and I used to sell my honey in a plastic bottle of soft drinks.”
The 75 kilograms of honey fetched him his first income, an amount of Rs 60,000, which made both him and his family happy. “The income motivated me and I took my journey and business forward and I managed to have 200 boxes.”
To expand his business Nazim availed a loan of five lakh rupees under another central government scheme, the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme.
The newly found success pushed Nazim to launch a website in 2020, “I started receiving orders amounting to thousands of kilograms. I was able to create a brand for myself,” he said.
In 2023 alone, Nazim stated that he was able to sell 5000 kilograms of honey through his website. “And as my journey continued, I was able to establish 2000 beekeeping boxes.”
Soon, he started providing employment opportunities to 100 people, “and in 2023 I received an FPO and now we are carefree, stress-free,” Nazim stated, “and now when we can earn more than Rs one lakh through one stall.”
Nazim also established that digital transformation and marketing has helped him and he thanked PM Modi for his schemes and support.
Listening to him, Modi said that Nazim by choosing the business of beekeeping has become a part of the “sweet revolution” just like other youth of Kashmir, “Many many congratulations for that.”
Nazim stated that initially, he faced difficulties and a lack of support. “I went to different places, and to different people to learn more about the beekeeping business but I did not find any support. And at last Department of Agriculture came to my aid and helped me during my journey.”
PM Modi while interacting with Nazim stated that the business of beekeeping is a very good job which not only helps the rearers but the farmers as well, to which Nazim replied, “Often farmers in other parts of the country offer us their land for free for the beekeeping.”
PM Modi suggested Nazim to study other types of honey that can be found in Central Asia. “They have a huge market, so I want you to study more about other types of honey.”
Nazim stated that the acacia honey that is produced in Kashmir is very high in demand and the rates of the honey have increased in the past several years.
“It was very nice talking to you Nazim. Your vision has been very clear throughout your studenthood too, it’s inspiring how you have challenged the challenges. I should congratulate not just you but your family too. You are making the country powerful,” the PM said.
Later Nazim asked the Prime Minister for a selfie, “It is my wish to click a selfie with you, sir,” Nazim said.
Later PM Modi posted a picture with Nazim on his X account and he wrote, “A memorable selfie with my friend Nazim. I was impressed by the good work he’s doing. At the public meeting, he requested a selfie and was happy to meet him. My best wishes for his future endeavours.”
