“From Law to Land: Shaziya Lateef Defies Odds, Establishes a Diverse Agricultural Empire in Shopian District”

Aaqib Naik

Shopian, 05 July:  In a remarkable twist of fate, Syed Shaziya Lateef, a young woman from Moloo Chitragam in Shopian District, has transformed her life’s path from pursuing an LLB degree to embracing the agricultural sector. Defying all odds, she has established her own thriving and diverse agricultural empire.

With her visionary efforts, Shaziya has revolutionized the perception of farming, becoming a beacon of inspiration in the community. Her ventures include a thriving cow dairy farm, a poultry farm boasting various breeds, and a successful rabbitry operation. Not only has she made a significant contribution to the local economy, but she has also shattered traditional stereotypes, serving as an empowering role model for women throughout the district.

(Pics by Aaqib Naik )

Embarking on a journey from the legal profession to the world of livestock, Shaziya Lateef’s transition encompassed multiple facets of the farming industry. Prior to her marriage in 2018, while pursuing her LLM degree with plans for a PhD, she shifted her focus to bring positive changes to her new family’s agricultural endeavors.

Driven by intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for holistic farming, Shaziya embarked on a learning journey to embrace a comprehensive approach that harmonizes various agricultural domains. Her endeavors spanned from traditional apple orchards to diverse vegetable cultivation, hybrid cattle fodder, poultry and rabbit farming, fish farming, and a thriving dairy farm. These pursuits demonstrated the boundless potential of holistic and sustainable farming practices.

Despite holding a prestigious LLM degree, Shaziya chose to defy expectations and embrace a life deeply rooted in agriculture and livestock. One area where she implemented innovative techniques was apple cultivation, dedicating 15 Kanals of land to traditional apple farming and another 15 Kanals to high-density apple orchards.

Expanding the agricultural scope, Shaziya introduced new crops such as grapes, plums, and kiwis in a 5 kanal area, adding diversity and value to the farm’s produce. To meet the rising demand for healthy and exotic vegetables, she ventured into growing conventional and exotic varieties like Broccoli, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, knol khol, Nadru, and pulses.

To support the livestock component of integrated farming, Shaziya incorporated hybrid cattle fodder, including Sorghum and super Napier, ensuring a nutritious diet for the cattle. She also implemented poultry farming, raising broilers in batches of 12,000 per cycle. Furthermore, she established a rabbitry, contributing to the farm’s diverse animal husbandry practices.

Taking a step forward towards aquatic farming, Shaziya initiated a fish farm with 10,000 trout fingerlings and 5,000 carp, tapping into the potential of fish cultivation and providing an additional income stream for her in-laws.

During a conversation with Arising State, Shaziya expressed her deep appreciation for the Agriculture Department’s pivotal role in facilitating the export of exotic vegetables to the UAE. She emphasized the department’s invaluable support in connecting farmers with international markets, leveraging their industry connections and expertise in international trade.

Recognized for her exceptional contributions to the field, Shaziya received a prestigious state award at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in 2022. She also had the privilege of representing her district as the only female participant in the recent G20 meet held in Srinagar, Kashmir, where she participated as an innovative farmer.

Shaziya’s success story serves as an inspiration to the farming community, encouraging them to explore sustainable and innovative practices that can revolutionize the agricultural landscape. She emphasized that educated women should break down the walls that enclose them and embrace the limitless opportunities within the agriculture sector.