By Danish Shafi

Across orchards, workshops, and winding tourist trails, small businesses in Kashmir have kept the wheels turning through decades of disturbances. Yet, these micro, small, and medium enterprises—MSMEs, as policy calls them—remain stunted by outdated support systems and distant policymaking.

Kashmir is a region defined by its contradictions. Rich in natural beauty, cultural heritage, and artisanal skill, it remains economically fragile.

According to the Annual Report of the Ministry of MSMEs 2022–23, India is home to over 63 million MSMEs, contributing nearly 30 percent to the GDP and employing over 110 million people.

In Kashmir, though precise data is fragmented, MSMEs account for an overwhelming share of non-government employment, particularly in handicrafts, small-scale farming, and tourism.

These businesses are not only economic units. They are social anchors.

In villages near Shopian, women gather around creaky looms to weave Pashmina threads into heirlooms. In the apple belts of Pulwama, growers prepare crates for export despite erratic weather. In Baramulla, small homestay operators welcome tourists with stories and saffron tea. Each is a node in a delicate economy that has survived conflict, climate shocks, and market closures.

But survival is no longer enough. Kashmir needs economic renewal. One way to start is by rethinking how financial support is extended to small businesses through........

© Kashmir Observer