MODEL MILLIONAIRE

By the end of twentieth century when a low ranking employee was desperately thinking about the future of his seven sons, he made a modest investment in creating a flower nursery. Operating from a south Kashmir village, they now grow countless varieties of flowers, vegetables and fruits and hire 25 gardeners round the year to implement major projects within and outside Kashmir, reports Samreena Nazir

- Samreena Nazir

On a cold January morning, when most people were reluctant to leave their warm beds, Shabir Ahmad Ganie was busy in his poly house. Wearing a cotton T-shirt and half pent, Shabir was sweating among the numerous yet-to-blossom multi-coloured flower beds and ornamental plants.

The interior of the poly-house was in contrast with the surroundings it was placed in. In Chillaikalan, the harshest part of the Kashmir winter, while snow carpeted everywhere, it was a steady temperature inside this structure enclosed by polycarbonate sheets. Inside, it seemed a summer day.

Ganai lives in Bogund, almost 70 kms south of Srinagar, 20 minutes walk from Kulgam. Of the 1500 families living in this village, Ganie, a retired food department employee is the most prominent name. He has been responsible for generating some kind of employment in this belt in the last few years. That is the key reason for his prominence.

Ganie has been a hardworking man throughout his life. At the peak of his career, he would return home from his job and get into work, grow varieties of flowers and plants at home. Fascinated by flowers, he used to decorate his home with flowers. In his village he was the first to get Catharanthus fencing of his courtyard. The plant remains green throughout the year.

Almost 20 years back, Ganai, a father of seven sons was restless. The future of his sons was the key concern. A low ranking official, he had nothing in hand to invest. After lot of interactions with his friends, he invested his Rs 27,000 saving inflow cultivation. He started with flower seedlings and plantations in his courtyard. Two of his sons, then in tenth class, also started assisting him. Gradually they were attracted by poultry, fishery and other avenues within the agrarian field. They would often attend trainings and awareness camps and interactions with the scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kulgam.