Kathua , November 21,2025: In a remarkable story of rural entrepreneurship, Lakhpati Didi Shakti Sharma from village Palli, Kathua has emerged as a shining example in mushroom cultivation. Beginning her journey with just 100 mushroom bags four years ago, she now manages an impressive 4,000 bags, producing nearly one quintal of mushrooms daily, marking a significant rise in local agri-based income generation.
Shakti Sharma’s success is not just personal—she is actively motivating around 200 women in her village to take up mushroom farming, fostering empowerment and self-reliance through women-led agri-enterprises. Her initiative is strengthening Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and contributing to the growing cluster of women entrepreneurs in the region.
According to Mushroom Development Officer Ashok Kumar, several women’s self-help groups in Kathua are already engaged in the sector, supported by the Agriculture Department, which is providing training, technical assistance, and capacity-building support to new and existing growers.
With rising demand for mushrooms and improved institutional backing, Kathua is fast emerging as a model for women empowerment, agricultural diversification, and rural economic growth.
