Tunnel farming has caught on in Gilgit Baltistan, where women like Farzana are making a difference. In 2014, the Baltistani resident received support from the Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) that helped grow her house-hold initiative into a successful tunnel farming business. Despite early criticism, she expanded her work to multiple greenhouses, cultivating a wide range of vegetables year round. Today, Farzana’s efforts not only provide fresh and affordable produce locally but also reduce reliance on supplies from distant cities, significantly contributing to the region’s food security.
It is also good for the tourism industry, where hoteliers and restaurants are now able to get fresh foods instead of having them destroyed by extreme heat or cold. Beyond her own success, Farzana has become a source of inspiration, training nearly 200 individuals to take up farming and enabling dozens of women to adopt tunnel farming.
Her story reflects the growing role of women in transforming agriculture and livelihoods in remote communities.
