A Queen among Drones

Each bee product has its unique market and applications. By diversifying our products, we generate multiple revenue opportunities, thus adding to the profitability Saniya Zehra

- Fayaz Wani

AMID the verdant valleys of Kashmir, an inspiring tale of entrepreneurship takes shape where 20-year-old Saniya Zehra, a young woman from outskirts of Srinagar, is challenging gender stereotypes by not only immersing herself in the male-dominated world of beekeeping but building herself a successful business in the field.

She is venturing off the beaten track as she sets up her bee empire, shining the light on a path of determination, resilience, and what women may achieve when they pursue their passions without the burden of societal notions and stereotypes.

Saniya, a resident of Balhama area in peripheries of Srinagar, took to beekeeping from an early age, keenly observing her father as he worked at his bee farm. Like any young girl, Saniya too was afraid of the bee sting and would shoo them away when they got too close. But this fear only filled her with a sense of fascination and respect for the little creatures, sowing the seeds for an endeavor that would later define her livelihood.