Entrepreneurship as a Career Option for Women with Special Reference to Mushroom Cultivation- A Case of Jammu and Kashmir | Original Article

ABSTRACT:

ABSTRACT

Entrepreneurship is globally considered to be a crucial and most significant source for generation of employment. The increasing presence of women as entrepreneurs has led to the change in the demographic characteristics of business and economic growth of the country. Women-owned businesses enterprises are playing a prominent role in society inspiring others and generating more employment opportunities in the country. Thus, present research has focused on assessing the state of women entrepreneurs in Jammu and Kashmir. For doing so, the aim of the present research is to analyze Mushroom cultivation as a successful entrepreneurial option for women entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has been a region of abundant natural resources. But its potentials has not been utilized yet owing to some political and cross border issues. It has kept it untouched for both doing business and establishing business. Owing to these reasons, the area has not seen much development when compared to other states and union territories of the country. With the recent steps taken by ruling government of India, the political and cross boarder situations have been improved and stabilized in the area which presented the area with opportunity to grow and develop. This is the time now for the locals, investors, government and various stakeholders around the country to invest and operate in the area. Hence, it is the golden era for establishing entrepreneurship in the region taking into consideration the women entrepreneurs. Mushroom cultivation requires a temperature of 20-30oC and a relative humidity of 55- 75%. The environmental requirements like sunlight and rainfall is not required for mushroom farming. Further, it does not require fertile agricultural land and can be grown indoors as well. Owing to the growth conditions required by mushroom, Jammu and Kashmir emerges as a perfect territory. Further, the investment required in mushroom cultivation is marginal when compared to the associated profits. This will facilitate in improving the economic conditions of the women entrepreneurs. Herein, both primary and secondary data will be used to analysis the situation. Quantitative analysis will be conducted using survey based methodology. Thus, present research has focused on assessing the state of women entrepreneurs in Jammu and Kashmir with focus on Mushroom cultivation in the region.