Traditionally Kutch was very famous for its fine quality metal work. Anjar was considered the best place to buy knives and nut crackers. Over time the knives made by hand have become uncompetitive with the machine made knives in terms of quality and price. The market for nut crackers has shrunk due to change in social patterns. The artisans in the villages are in a very impoverished state and normally take raw material from traders and give the finished goods back to them. Today if one goes to the village one would not find any stock with the artisans.

It is very important that new products be developed so that the artisans can compete in the market place. A whole range of new products that are utilitarian and decorative need to be designed.

Although all these crafts are located in Kutch, each of them has its own peculiarities and problems. A common methodology for all will not work. While some crafts are marginal, other crafts are thriving and need inputs for expansion. The need of marginal crafts like Namda, lacquer, pottery etc. is total hand holding and full support from technical inputs, raw material supply and marketing. The bigger crafts need more sophisticated inputs in areas of market linkages, design development, training of artisans etc. Leverage points of each craft have been identified which can be harnessed to achieve maximum results. HMCP has been very successful in reviving and supporting small and marginal craftsmen. With this project it proposes to do the same with bigger crafts and craftspeople.