Calling upon youth to become job creators instead of job seekers, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said agriculture and allied sectors hold immense potential for startups, value addition and entrepreneurship programmes in the region.
Addressing a Startup Outreach Programme organised under the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu, the Chief Minister, according to the news agency said, “Agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and apiculture together form a strong economic base of the region.”
He said, “There is a misconception that Jammu and Kashmir’s economy is driven only by tourism. The fact is that agriculture and horticulture contribute significantly to J&K’s Gross Domestic Product.”
CM Omar told students that government employment opportunities are limited and not everyone can secure a government job.
He said the youth must explore innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly in sectors where the region already has natural strengths. “We do not have resources like coal, iron ore or oil to set up large-scale industries. We have to build industries around what we already possess, and agriculture offers that opportunity,” he said.
The Chief Minister stressed the need for value addition to make agriculture viable, noting that shrinking land holdings and market uncertainties have made traditional farming less sustainable.
Citing dairy as an example, he said only a small percentage of milk produced in Jammu and Kashmir undergoes processing, unlike states such as Gujarat where value addition is significantly higher. Processing milk into products such as paneer and other dairy items increases income and creates employment, he added.
He also highlighted opportunities in meat processing, fisheries, honey production, floriculture and horticulture, saying small innovations can open new markets. Referring to a young innovator who improved flower packaging to enhance shelf life, he said such ideas can generate viable enterprises.
Encouraging students to take risks, Abdullah said failure should not deter aspiring entrepreneurs. Drawing a parallel with global entrepreneur Elon Musk, he said setbacks are part of innovation and learning.
The chief minister assured institutional and government support for young entrepreneurs and called upon them to harness schemes such as JKCIP and the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme to modernise the sector.
On the occasion, he launched 808 Kisan Khidmat Ghars aimed at strengthening grassroots agricultural services and felicitated startups and farmers’ producer organisations for their achievements