The Role of Traditional Crafts Trade and Markets in Local Community Development

The Role of Traditional Crafts Trade and Markets in Local Community Development Uddhav A. Vidhate Assistant Professor, HSBPVTS, GOI, FOM, Kashti S. S. Lalage Assistant Professor, Govt. College of ABM, Kashti, Malegaon Abstract The sustainable development goals focus on the communication development and regional balance. The traditional crafts trade remains a significant yet often undervalued component of local economic development, especially in rural and peri-urban regions where formal employment opportunities are limited. This paper examines how traditional crafts and associated markets contribute to household income, employment generation, women’s economic participation, cultural continuity, and place-based development. Drawing on a mixed-methods secondary framework and comparative insights from Rajasthan in India, Oaxaca in Mexico, and Kumasi in Ghana, the study evaluates the economic, social, and institutional dimensions of craft-based economies. The analysis shows that traditional craft markets do more than facilitate sales of artisanal goods; they also create multiplier effects through tourism, transport, local raw material sourcing, and small-enterprise formation. At the same time, artisans face persistent barriers related to finance, infrastructure, digital exclusion, and cultural commodification. The paper argues that traditional crafts can function as resilient engines of inclusive local development when supported by coordinated policy, cooperative organization, digital market access, and heritage-sensitive tourism strategies. Keywords: Traditional crafts; local economies, artisan markets, cultural heritage, livelihoods, sustainable development, community empowerment