Handicrafts play an important role in the economic fabric of the country in view of its tremendous employment potential especially in rural areas.  Nowadays the natural fiber based crafts have been in great demand over other handicrafts because they are eco friendly and most of them satisfy both aesthetic and utility values. Realizing the importance of natural fiber in the World economy, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2009 as the International year of the Natural fiber. The Plastic products are creating serious ecological problems because of their non-degradable in nature. Of late the Kerala Government has banned the use of plastic below 20 microns and the use of natural fibers are being advocated. The global demand for natural fiber products are also increasing day by day. Natural fiber craft like, cane and bamboo, banana fiber, screw pine, corra grass, palm leaf, sisal fiber, water hyacinth, etc  are widely practiced in Kerala and thousands of artisans especially women artisans are engaged in these crafts. The availability of abundant raw materials is  the most important factor for the flourishing of these crafts.

  Kerala is described as God’s own Country by the Kerala Tourism Department and natural fiber craft very well is called God’s own craft. There is great scope for development of their crafts with proper linkage with Tourism Industry. There is also tremendous employment and export potential for these crafts