In Kashmir, the term ‘herd mentality’ is often uttered with a sigh.It is looked at as laziness and not thinking outside the box. More often, it is cited as a reason for stagnation, a symptom of a society too comfortable with conformity. But what if that very mindset, so often criticized, could be the key to unlocking the Valley’s entrepreneurial future?
Currently, business ideas and untapped economic potential in Kashmir are often discussed on dastarkhans in most of the households. Yet, most of these ideas vanish with the steam of the evening ‘noon chai’. Families often talk about the region’s resources like apples, trout, Walnut and saffron, but all ideas eventually fizzle out. The reason is a persistent cultural inertia; an inherited tendency to sit back, stay comfortable, stubborn lack of willingness to take risks and a tendency to wait rather than start taking action.
That kind of reluctance is understandable, given the region’s politically and economically unstable climate. But things are starting to shift. And that willingness to move will be in the form of a collective. Then, in that instance, the herd mentality becomes a useful asset.
Kashmir has the assets to accelerate a startup ecosystem:
- Natural resources like lakes, orchards, and mountains.
- An abundant workforce lacking in execution but rich in ideas.
- Farming, craftworking, and tourism traditional skills.
Kashmir is on the right track to unlock basic entrepreneurship solutions. However, it needs to add momentum to fuel success, as one thriving startup can culture dozens of copycats in a follower-first region. Shifts in the established narrative are essential for the growth of startups. Since only a handful are willing to lead, all that’s essential is for people to take the leap first.
Strengths that assist region-specific are far more useful than the mindset of making Kashmir a carbon copy of Silicon Valley. This enables the region to establish a fresh model catering to the soil it rests on, the resources available, and the people. Building on this perspective, this article attempts to present a breakdown of these resources (to name a few), along with potential startup ideas that align with local strengths and global market trends:
Horticulture- Primary Sectors of Activity
Kashmir shines in producing walnuts, almonds, apricots, cherries and saffron. The issue is that
they are mostly unbranded and untreated.
Startup Ideas:
- Cold chain logistics for spoilage prevention.
- Juice, jam and dried fruit processing units.
- Branded product and packaging export market.
- Digital Marketplaces for Direct B2C Sales.
- Consulting services and facilitating Organic Certifications.
Agriculture
The Kashmir valley is blessed with top-class rice like Mushk Budji. Pulses and mustard are also cultivated. However, the yield is not good because of the outdated cultivation practices.
Startup Ideas:
- IoT Devices to smart monitor crops and soil, including irrigation systems.
- Tools for weather-based crop planning.
- Farm-to-table delivery systems.
- Seed vaults aimed at safeguarding unique strains of crops.
- Mobile advisory services for crop insurance and consultancy.
Handicrafts and Artisanal Goods
Kashmiri crafts, including pashmina, carpets, and paper-Mache, are renowned worldwide but require better marketing.
Startup Ideas:
- E-Commerce sites selling directly to consumers internationally.
- Artisan associations guarantee reasonable compensation.
- Augmented Reality shows the work of artisans while they live.
- Designer artisans working together.
- Workshop-style tours focusing on crafts
Fisheries and Aquaculture
In Kashmir, trout and carp are cultivated and farmed in lakes and rivers, but this practice is yet to be fully implemented.
Startup Ideas:
- High-efficiency trout farms.
- Locally and internationally marketed processed fish products.
- Aquaculture equipment and fish feed supply chains.
- Transport and storage of cold goods.
Tourism and Eco-Tourism
Here, tourism still depends on a limited number of attractions like; Pahalgam, Gulmarg or Sonmarg. Many activities and stunning landmarks remain untapped.
Startup ideas:
- Platforms for authentic village stay.
- Adventure tourism like skiing, hiking, and even paragliding.
- Bird-watching and nature trails.
- Virtual 360° tours.
- Chai and Wazwan food tours.
Aromatic And Medicinal Plants
Most of the herbs used in traditional medicine are not commercially available. However, the majority of Kashmiri traditional medicine herbs present in the region are botanically unique. The biodiversity of Kashmir strongly supports these botanicals.
Startup ideas:
- Natural skincare and herbal tea.
- Sustainable wild harvesting cooperatives.
- Regional cosmeceutical R&D with universities.
- Aromatic plant cultivation, including rosemary and lavender.
Renewable Energy
The valley shows prospects for significant untapped sources of renewable clean energy.
Startup ideas:
- Isolated micro-hydro power plants for rural communities.
- Biogas units made from farm waste
- Battery storage options for load-shedding areas
- Solar heaters, cookers, and even dryers for colder months
From the Ground-Up: A Call to Build with What We Have
The change in Kashmir doesn’t have to come from the outside. The best way to change Kashmir is to use its people and culture as a sound foundation that offers many useful cultural and natural resources. All that is required is local motivation. The willpower must be directed toward promoting motivational change at local levels. Action is made to sound tougher than it’s actually done. Embracing a group’s action and participation makes the first step, the hardest of all, much easier. When people move in unison, this collective action becomes simple.
For the youth of our beloved valley, we must not wait for the perfect time or the ideal conditions because the ‘perfect’ does not exist. Doing something, even if small, can change a lot. Let us Startup!
(The Author is Senior Assistant Professor; Department of Management Studies, South Campus and Nodal Officer NewGen IEDC, University of Kashmir. Feedback: [email protected])
