Srinagar, April 30 -- Kashmir stands at the edge of an economic transition that few policymakers fully understand.

Apple orchards and tourism still dominate public discourse, though a different economy has started taking root in the valley's forests, fields and mountain slopes.

Medicinal plants, organic farming, herbal products and wellness tourism now attract scientists, entrepreneurs and investors who see Kashmir as a future center for natural health industries.

Global demand fuels that interest. Consumers increasingly spend money on plant-based supplements, herbal therapies, organic foods and preventive health products.

India's nutraceutical market has expanded rapidly during the past decade, and Kashmir's biodiversity has entered ...