Agriculture, retail sectors emerge as top picks for J&K’s aspiring entrepreneurs
With unemployment remaining a pressing concern in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has identified at least 5.48 lakh potential entrepreneurs who have expressed interest in establishing enterprises, particularly in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and other sectors.
According to the Mission Yuva Baseline Survey Report 2024-25, a total of 5,48,761 potential entrepreneurs have been identified and classified into two broad categories—employed and unemployed.
“Currently, 1,48,035 potential entrepreneurs are employed, comprising 72% males and 28% females. Another 3,43,871 potential entrepreneurs are unemployed, with 63.1% males and 36.9% females," the report states. Additionally, 56,855 individuals are engaged in unregistered activities.
The report highlights that 36,770 respondents lack any technical skills. Among those possessing technical expertise, the largest representation is in agriculture, forestry and fishing, followed by wholesale and retail trade, and motor vehicle/motorcycle-related businesses. Other prominent sectors include services, construction and manufacturing.
“These findings highlight the sectors with the greatest potential for skill development and entrepreneurial growth,” the report notes. “There is a clear need for targeted interventions in areas where technical skills are underdeveloped, particularly in agriculture and retail trade, which dominate the entrepreneurial landscape.”
The highest preference for enterprise creation is in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector, with 31,840 youth showing interest. This is followed by wholesale and retail trade and other service activities. Other sectors gaining significant interest include construction, accommodation and food services and manufacturing.
According to the report, these preferences indicate that the youth are gravitating towards sectors offering opportunities for innovation, sustainability and growth, with a notable emphasis on agriculture and retail industries. Dairy farming emerges as the most preferred entrepreneurial activity.
When it comes to investment scale, a significant number of potential entrepreneurs—56,100—prefer investing between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. The second most popular investment range is Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, preferred by 43,130 respondents. Additionally, 27,490 potential entrepreneurs are interested in ventures requiring Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, indicating a preference for moderately sized businesses.
The primary requirement for starting a business is funding or loans, with 49% of respondents citing this as their main need. This is followed by a demand for entrepreneurship training and workshops (21%), mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs (12%), and access to markets and industry information (10%). About 5% expressed interest in networking opportunities, while 3% seek simplified legal and regulatory processes.
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