In the serene village of Sonigam in Kashmir’s Kulgam district, the morning hum of honeybees signals the start of Shabir Ahmad Itoo’s day. Clad in his trademark green-and-black hat, the 35-year-old moves with focus and ease among rows of buzzing hives — barehanded, fearless, attentive.

Just a few years ago, Itoo was a Physical Education lecturer, earning a stable income and teaching at some of Jammu and Kashmir’s top colleges. Today, he’s a full-time beekeeper, nurturing both honeybees and a new model of sustainable agriculture. What led him here wasn’t just a change in career — it was a deeper calling, rooted in his love for nature and a desire to create something lasting.

“I’m not chasing jobs anymore,” he says, a calm smile on his face. “I’m creating them.”

A life built around bees

Every morning, Itoo begins his day not with a cup of Nun Chai, Kashmir’s beloved pink tea, but with the hum of honeybees. Barehanded and unafraid, he lifts each hive box with care, inspecting the colonies for movement, health, and rhythm — reading the signs as if in conversation with nature.

“I spent four years as a college lecturer, earning around ₹30,000 a month,” he says, tipping the brim of his hat. “But beekeeping changed everything. My income has doubled. More importantly, I feel I’ve finally found the right path. I’m not just earning — I’m building something. I now have five people working with me. This is not just work. It’s purpose.”

His first experience with bees came long before he left the classroom. Itoo started by observing traditional mud hives, a method commonly used in his region. His parents, both familiar with the practice, taught him the basics. As his interest deepened, he attended beekeeping training programmes organised by the Apiculture Department in Kulgam.

Later, through the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), he received a structured........

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