Opinion | It’s Time To Walk The Extra Mile To Boost Kashmir’s Economy

Last Updated:February 18, 2025, 11:09 IST

There’s a crying need to consider the institution of a comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach that incorporates both the challenges and opportunities specific to the region.

Kashmir’s unmatched magnificence has aptly earned it the enviable sobriquet of ‘paradise on earth’ and it attracts thousands of tourists, both from within India and abroad. (Image: Shutterstock)

Kashmir is blessed by nature in many ways. It has a picturesque landscape with high mountains with snow-capped peaks, lush green valleys and gurgling streams and a pleasant climate for the better part of the year. The bountifulness of this includes agriculture, horticulture as well as floriculture and its unmatched magnificence has aptly earned Kashmir the enviable sobriquet of ‘paradise on earth’ and it attracts thousands of tourists, both from within India and abroad.

While this region is economically doing reasonably well, a healthy demand and supply balance cannot be achieved solely through traditional practices. Furthermore, with global warming and climate change acquiring monstrous proportions, overdependence on nature’s blessings can in the long run prove disastrous. Hence, there’s a crying need to consider the institution of a comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach that incorporates both the challenges and opportunities specific to the region.

Reviving Kashmir’s Agricultural Sector

Agriculture has traditionally been a significant contributor to Kashmir’s economy. Some suggestions for further improvement:

Improving productivity and diversification in agricultural practices, such as diversification and promoting organic farming can lead to greater export potential.

Focus on improving the supply chain for indigenous produce such as saffron, apples, and other key agricultural products, along with exploring the role of ‘agro-tourism’ and agricultural subsidies.

Support measures by the government such as enhancing irrigation infrastructure, ensuring better access to markets, and implementing modern farming techniques.

Promoting Sustainable Tourism

Tourism in Kashmir has a high potential for growth that can be fruitfully tapped by diversifying from traditional sightseeing to other popular disciplines like eco-tourism, adventure tourism, and heritage tourism. This can be achieved by:

A comprehensive study to explore innovative ways of combining Kashmir’s cultural heritage, scenic landscapes and historical sites to attract international and domestic tourists.

Infrastructure development both in terms of capacity and quality with additional security measures to dispel any misgivings or apprehension regarding safety amongst tourists.

Investment in Infrastructure Development

Upgrading roads, telecommunications, airports, and hospitals are crucial for economic growth.

Focusing on the importance of connectivity for improving trade, mobility, and flow of tourists. The scope of introducing public-private partnerships (PPPs) needs to be thoroughly examined as it can play a vital role in enhancing the region’s infrastructure.

Boosting Local Industries and Handicraft Sectors

Kashmir has a wide range of locally manufactured products like pashmina shawl and carpets weaving, woodwork and paper mache items. The government could examine ways to support artisans, encourage exports, and create global brand awareness for Kashmiri handicrafts.

There is a need for the government to provide artisans better access to markets and integrate technology to expand their reach.

Promoting Education and Skill Development

Educating the youth and providing them with the skills necessary for employment or entrepreneurship is a vital step in triggering economic growth.

Studies should be undertaken to explore meaningful partnerships between educational institutions and industries to align curriculums with local requirements, particularly in sectors like IT, healthcare, and sustainable agriculture.

Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Start-ups

Fostering a culture of entrepreneurship is crucial. Support for local start-ups, especially in the technology, agriculture, and handicraft sectors, can create additional job opportunities.

Feasibility of providing incentives such as tax breaks or incubation centers for young entrepreneurs to start their businesses need to be examined in detail.

Developing a Green Economy

As the region is rich in natural resources, focusing on renewable energy projects like solar and hydroelectric power could secure long-term economic benefits without degrading the environment.

Suggestions from reputed organisations and eminent personalities on practical policies to promote green jobs, sustainable development practices, and the role of eco-friendly industries in the region can be called for.

Encouraging Financial Inclusion and Access to Credit

Easy access to capital and credit is a prerequisite for economic progress and as such private enterprise should be encouraged through tax sops and expert advice.

Due to lack of adequate knowledge on financial matters, many entrepreneurs as well as those self-employed face a major problem in financing their endeavours. Therefore, increasing awareness on how local banks, government schemes, or microfinance initiatives can facilitate easier access to credit for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) would be useful.

Improving Governance and Cutting Red Tape

Governance reform is the key to the region’s economic growth. Simplifying bureaucratic procedures to reduce delay in processing various proposals and improving the business environment would encourage both domestic and international investments.

A concerted drive to eliminate red tape and enhance transparency and accountability in the public sector will attract and benefit investors and entrepreneurs.

Despite having suffered more than three decades of terrorism, Kashmir’s industry and economy has shown remarkable resilience and bounced back with remarkable vigour thanks to the enterprise of its people. The government needs to capitalise on this positive quality and walk the extra mile to support those who are in their own small way working assiduously to improve Kashmir’s economy.

The author is Editor Brighter Kashmir, Author, TV commentator, political analyst and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author.

Location :

Srinagar, India, India

News opinion Opinion | It’s Time To Walk The Extra Mile To Boost Kashmir’s Economy



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