Nazim Nazir’s beekeeping venture flourishes nationwide, inspires Kashmiri youth towards entrepreneurship

PAMPORE: Nazim Nazir, a budding entrepreneur hailing from Samboora village of Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, has witnessed a remarkable surge in orders from across the country following his recent interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The interaction took place during the Viksit Bharat Event held at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar last month, where Nazim Nazir had the opportunity to engage with the Prime Minister and even capture a memorable selfie together.
Ever since the interaction, Nazim’s entrepreneurial venture, centred around beekeeping activities, has experienced a significant uptick in demand. His dedication and efforts in the field of beekeeping garnered attention, leading to thousands of orders pouring in from various parts of the country.
Participating as a speaker at the prestigious Rising Bharat Summit further showcased Nazim Nazir’s growing influence and recognition in the entrepreneurial landscape. During his speech at the summit, he highlighted the importance of exploring unique business opportunities and urged fellow Kashmiri youth to venture into entrepreneurship rather than solely seeking government jobs.
Expressing his gratitude, Nazim acknowledged the support received from the government, particularly through the Farmer Producer Organization (FPO), which has played a pivotal role in enhancing his beekeeping operations. He emphasized how the assistance provided has contributed to the growth and success of his business endeavours.
Nazim operates the company under the name Al Nahl Producer Company Ltd, with the brand name Al Nahl Honey. His journey from a small village in Saffron Towns Pampore to a nationally recognized entrepreneur serves as an inspiring example for aspiring youth, showcasing the possibilities and opportunities that entrepreneurship can offer in driving personal and community growth.
As he continues to make strides in his entrepreneurial journey, Nazim remains committed to expanding his business and making a positive impact in his community and beyond.
Speaking to Kashmir Reader, Nazim Nazir said that since his recent interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Viksit Bharat Event, his business has seen progress and received a boost.
“I am very happy that I got such a platform where I had the opportunity to interact with our honorable Prime Minister. Now, I am considering starting a training programme that includes beekeeping, aiming to engage more people. I plan to start this program right after Eid so that the youth of Kashmir can also join and learn about beekeeping,” he said. “Since I have received numerous phone calls requesting training in beekeeping, I also want to educate everyone in Kashmir about what beekeeping entails.”
Nazim said he started beekeeping from scratch, which is quite challenging to find a job in Kashmir. He began his beekeeping journey in 10th grade with just two empty beekeeping boxes, and gradually, with determination and support from the agriculture department, he developed his beekeeping venture. Despite initial limitations, he persevered and advanced with those two beekeeping boxes.
“I had a keen interest and a desire to do something meaningful. I spent nights searching on Google and scouring the internet to find a job or a venture that resonated with me, something that I could wholeheartedly pursue,” he said.
The young entrepreneur said that in Kashmir, everyone tends to follow the same path, and if someone opens a shop, many others follow suit. “I thought of doing something unique, something that wasn’t already present in my district or state. After spending considerable time searching, I ultimately started a beekeeping program, with support and guidance from relevant departments,” he said.
In the end, I created a successful brand and launched an online website where I sold a substantial amount of honey, he said, adding that this endeavour allowed me to establish my name at the national level.
Nazim said he recently received an invitation and participated in the two-day Rising Bharat Summit organised by News-18 in New Delhi, where former cricketer Amir Hussain and others were also invited.
My interaction with Amir Hussain provided me with a great deal of motivation, he said. “There, I was invited as a speaker, and in my speech, I emphasized the need for Kashmir to progress and for Kashmiris to advance. I encouraged the audience to aspire to make something of themselves and to think of unique business ventures or solutions, similar to how I ventured into beekeeping or Amir Hussain pursued para cricket. I emphasized that with determination and unique ideas, nothing can hold them back from achieving great heights.”
The message I want to convey to the youth is that nowadays, Kashmiri youth are increasingly getting involved in entrepreneurship. “If we look outside Kashmir, there is significant entrepreneurship development in other states, there is a culture of business innovation. However, in Kashmir, there seems to be only one mindset, which is towards government jobs. I want to urge youth not to pursue government jobs blindly. Instead, think about starting your own business, creating a successful business unit, and building a strong brand. With determination and innovation, nothing can stop you,” he said.
Nazim said there is a lot of support from the government, with many startups opening up. “At present, SKUAST-Kashmir is providing significant support as well. Many departments are actively encouraging Kashmiri youth to progress and move forward in their endeavours, he said.
My message to Kashmiri youth is this build your own brand, start your own business, and don’t chase after government jobs. “In the business field, you can earn a decent income – you can make Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 or more. Start in the business field at the initial stage, and as you progress, you’ll continue to grow,” he advised.

BILAL HABIB