Kerala Traditional Industries

Kerala's major traditional industries include coir, handlooms, cashew processing, handicrafts, rubber industries and bamboo & screw pine manufacturing. These labor-intensive sectors support the rural economy and employ around one million people in Kerala. As per the 2006–2007 census by SIDBI, there are around 1.5 million MSMEs in Kerala employing 3 million people. The industries fall under Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) zone were craftworks, handlooms, Khadi cloths, Food processing units, apparel and fabric makings, and industries associated to coir, rubber, plastic, mud, wood, mud products and so on. The KSIDC has promoted more than 650 medium and large manufacturing firms in Kerala, creating employment for 72,500 people. A mining sector is also working in the state. Here are a list of traditional industries in Kerala.

Coir Industries

Kerala aggregates 95 percent of the entire coir and coir product production in India. Coir sector provides employment to around 4 lakh persons, of which 84% are women. Kerala Government declared the year 2010 as the 'Year of Coir'. The Slogan of Kerala Coir is ‘Golden Yarn of God's Own Country'. The first Coir village (gramam) is Vayalar. The Coir Board was formed in 1954. The Coir Board was started by the Union Government under Coir Industry Act 1955. Coir Research Institute is located at Kalavoor. Apex federation in the coir sector is Kerala State Coir Co-operative Marketing Federation (COIRFED) located in AIappuzha (1979). Public sector undertakings in the coir sector are Kerala State Coir Corporation Ltd (KSCC) and Foam Mattings (India) Ltd (FOMIL). The National Coir Training and Designing Centre is located at Alappuzha (1965). The National Coir Research and Management Institute (NCRMI) is located at Thiruvananthapuram. The largest importer of coir products from India is America followed by UK and Germany.

Handloom Industries

Institute of Handloom & Textile Technology of Kannur is a Nodal agency for training, research and development in the handloom and textile sector. The Procurement and marketing of handloom fabrics are undertaken by Hantex and Hanveev. The apex body of handloom co-operatives are Kerala State Handloom Weaver's Co-operative Society (Hantex) established in 1961. Hanveev is Kerala State Handloom Development Corporation which is started in 1968. The earlier name is 'The Kerala State Handloom Finance Corporation' (1968). The objectives are providing assistance in manufacturing and marketing products. Its corporate office is at Kannur. TEXFED is Kerala State Co-operative Textile Federation operating seven Co-operative mills. The largest number of handloom societies is at Thiruvananthapuram District. The lowest number of handloom societies is at Wayanad. The Scheme for handloom workers is 'Thanima' for Thiruvananthapuram District and ‘Kruthika' for Kannur District.

Handicrafts Industries

SURABI is Kerala State Handicrafts Apex Co-operative Society. The major promotional agencies in the handicrafts industry are Handicrafts Development Corporation and Artisans Development Corporation. Handicrafts Development Corporation of Kerala was established in 1968. It is engaged in procuring and marketing handicrafts products by giving fair returns to artisans through its Kairali emporia. KADCO is The Kerala Artisans Development Corporation (established in 1981). 

Cashew Industries

The largest producer of cashew nut is Kannur. The agencies in cashew processing sector are KSCDC and CAPEX. The Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC) was incorporated in July 1969 and started in 1971. Its headquarters is at Kollam. Kerala State Cashew Workers Apex Co-operative Society (CAPEX) has its headquarters at Kollam. It is registered in 1984. The largest number of Cashew Industry Units is at Kollam and largest producer of Cashewnut is Kannur.

Rubber Industries

The first Rubber Factory in India is Travancore Rubber Factory. It was founded in 1935 at Thiruvananthapuram. It is the first Public Sector Undertaking in erstwhile Travancore. Rubber Board is a statutory body formed by the Union Government (1947). Its headquarters is at Kottayam. The first commercial Hevea plantations in the country were started at Thattekadu in 1902. The most economically important rubber tree is Hevea brasiliensis which is native to tropical South America. Rubbermark is Kerala State Co-operative Rubber Marketing Federation Limited. It is the Apex institution of the Primary Rubber Marketing Co-operatives in Kerala. It is the largest Supplier of Natural Rubber in India. RUBCO is Kerala state Rubber Co-operative Ltd. It was set up in the year 1997. Its corporate office is at Kannur.

Khadi and Village Industries

Kerala Khadi and Village Industries Board was formed as a statutory body. Its head office is at Ernakulam (1957). Its chairman is Minister for Co-operation, Khadi & Village Industries. It was established in 1957. All India Khadi and Rural Development Board was formed in 1953.

Bamboo and Screw Pine Industries

Workers weave screw pine leaves (Kaitha) and bamboo into durable mats, baskets, and eco-friendly utility goods. Kerala State Bamboo Mission (KSBM) was constituted in the year 2003 to act as the Bamboo Development Agency (BDA) of the Kerala State. The interventions initiated after the formation of KSBM under K-BIP includes promoting the cultivation of bamboo, designing new innovative products with appropriate skill development, and the promotion of bamboo based modern industries with the aid of technology.