Dal Lake Lotus Stem Producer Company Limited

We've been working around the water for a long time. Our group is based over at Haji Mohalla in Saida Kadal, right near the lake. Growing lotus stems isn't easy work, but it’s what we know how to do here. Most of us grew up seeing the nadru harvested from the Dal, and eventually, we decided to get together to handle the business side of things ourselves. It’s a lot of mud and long hours in the boats, especially when the weather gets cold or the water levels change unexpectedly. We just try to get the harvest out to the markets without too much fuss. Our office is basically just a spot at Ghulam Mohammad Sofi’s place. It’s where we sit down and talk about which areas are ready for pulling and who is going to handle the transport. There aren't any fancy offices or big signs out front. We keep things pretty simple because that's how it works best for us. Dealing with the lake means you have to be patient. Some days the stems are great, and other days it takes twice as long to find what we need. We just keep at it day after day. It’s just us local folks trying to make sure the work gets done right and everyone gets their fair share of the harvest. If you're looking for us, we're usually down by the water or at the house in Saida Kadal. It’s a quiet life, but it keeps us busy and puts food on the table.