In 1991, Manipur-based Yangmila Zimik welcomed her son into the world. Her journey into motherhood was anything but conventional. At just 21, unmarried, and without any support from the child’s father, she faced the overwhelming challenge of raising her newborn alone.
“Neither he nor his family took any responsibility for the child. I didn’t receive any alimony either. I was left without emotional or financial support. But how could I turn my back on my child? I took on all the responsibility,” Yangmila recalls. “My father was a great help at first, but after his passing, I had to fend for myself.”
With limited resources, the Class 10 dropout took on various small-scale businesses to support her family. Undeterred, she single-handedly juggled odd jobs — selling vegetables, running a modest tea shop, selling second-hand clothes, and even venturing into poultry farming.
Each endeavour brought valuable lessons, though often accompanied by setbacks. Yet, her spirit remained unshaken. “I wasn’t doing well in these jobs. I even had to quit poultry farming due to bird flu outbreaks and low market rates,” she shares.
Yangmila’s entrepreneurial journey was born out of necessity. In 2016, she ventured into food processing and launched her own company, ‘Shirin Products’, which has since earned her widespread recognition.
From humble beginnings to impactful outcomes
Inspired by childhood memories of enjoying fresh candies made from wild fruits, Yangmila saw a spark of opportunity. In 2015, she began experimenting at home, crafting pickles and candies using wild fruits sourced from in and around her village.
Around the same time, she underwent training in candy-making through the non-profit Participatory Action for Sustainable Development Organisation (PASDO) and later at Kendriya Vigyan Kendra, ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), Imphal.
The first product Yangmila made was gooseberry candy. “I had just Rs 500 with me. With that, I bought a tin of gooseberries and some sugar. I prepared the first batch of candy, packaged it, and went out to sell,” she recalls. “I gifted some packets to friends and visited shops to distribute samples, focusing on building a customer base. Despite giving most of it away, I managed to earn Rs 650.”
With her earnings, Yangmila purchased more raw materials like gooseberries and prunus apples. The second batch brought in about Rs 1,000, a modest but encouraging start that fueled her determination to expand.
Today, her repertoire boasts over 40 varieties — including pickles, candies, and squashes — each infused with the unique flavours of the Ukhrul hills. Most of her pickles, she shares, are prepared using fresh, organically grown vegetables from her 5,000-square-foot kitchen garden.
“We grow vegetables like broccoli, corn, radish, and lettuce in our kitchen garden. Our pickles made from green chillies, yongchak (monkey beans), radish, and perilla are most loved by our customers,” she adds.
Over time, Yangmila’s business flourished, and today she sources fruits from over 100 farmers across 20 neighbouring villages. What began as a small home-based venture has blossomed into a thriving enterprise. Employing six local women, her business has not only empowered her personally but also uplifted her community.
With monthly sales exceeding Rs 1 lakh and a 25 percent profit margin, her venture has drawn attention far beyond her home state. Her products, featuring unique flavours like wild olives, plums, wild apples, gooseberries, kiwis, and hog plums, are now available in Manipur, Assam, Nagaland, Mumbai, and Delhi.
Showcasing these regional flavours at exhibitions in Delhi, Guwahati, and Shillong, the 52-year-old is extending her region’s culinary traditions to a wider audience.
Establishing herself in violence-hit Manipur
Despite her growing success, Yangmila continues to face challenges. The ongoing conflict in Manipur has disrupted markets in several districts. “Because of the ongoing war between tribes, our business has also suffered losses. I lost markets in at least three districts. But even during these times, we have received immense support from the horticulture department,” she shares.
Additionally, the physical constraints of her firm’s small shed limit further expansion and the creation of more employment opportunities. Yet, she remains optimistic. “We get orders through Facebook and Instagram,” she notes, highlighting the digital potential she plans to leverage with future investments.
Interestingly, Yangmila’s strides caught the attention of Manipur’s Chief Minister Biren Singh, who commended her work on social media. “Her [Yangmila’s] journey from the remote villages of Ukhrul to becoming a successful entrepreneur with her brand, Shirin Products, shows the strength and potential of the people of Manipur. May her success inspire us that with vision and determination, even the toughest odds can be overcome,” he wrote on X.
Yangmila has also been a recipient of the Vijaya Lakshmi Das Entrepreneurship Award in 2020 and the Assam Women Entrepreneurs Award in 2021. “I was quite shocked and surprised when I learnt I had been chosen for the award. I am glad people appreciated my work,” she says.
Despite her success and various awards, she remains grounded, ever eager to expand and provide more opportunities. Her son, Shangreiphao, shares his mother’s pride and determination. The lessons he has gleaned from Yangmila — of perseverance, tenacity, and consistency — are treasures he holds dear.
“My ava (mother) is a very strong woman. Despite her age, she stays dedicated to her work and never forgets the techniques, methods, or the precise ratio of ingredients to use. From her, I’ve learned the true meaning of consistency and perseverance,” says Shangreiphao, who pursued a master’s in forestry. “Although she’s a dropout herself, she understands the value of education. It was she who insisted that I study further.”
For Yangmila, her journey is also about redefining societal norms and breaking the chains of limitations imposed by circumstances. Her message to women in similar straits is clear: “Do not feel bogged down by what happens to you. Nurture the talent given to you by God; be strong and courageous, and good things will happen.”
Edited by Pranita Bhat; All images courtesy Shangreiphao
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