Main Cottage Industries
• Handloom industry
• Silk industry
• Hand-spinning industry
• Pottery industry
• Biri-making industry
• Conch-shell and Ivory industry
• Coir industry
• Salt industry
• Cane and Bamboo industry
• Soap industry
• Brass and bell metal industry
• Wood industry
• Miscellaneous

Importance of cottage industries
1. Supplementary occupation for the farmers
2. Additional source of income
3. Cottage industry is labor intensive
4. Female employment
5. Economy of labor
6. Economy of capital
7. Earning of foreign exchange
8. Balanced industrial development
9. Freedom of work and homely atmosphere
10. Preservation of arts and skills
11. Use of by-products of large industries
12. Equitable distribution of income
13. Raw materials of cottage industries are easily available

Problems of cottage industries
1. Lack of capital     
2. Want of credit
3. Low wages
4. Scarcity of raw materials
5. Scarcity of modern tools
6. Lack of education
7. Lack of technical training
8. Lack of power (gas, electricity etc.)
9. Absence of government patrons
10. Competition with large scale industries
11. Uncertainty of market
12.  Lack of gradation and standardization of product

Suggested Solution
1. Improvement of credit facilities
2. Up to date technique of production
3. Supply of raw materials
4. Marketing facilities
5. Education and training
6. Supply of cheap power
7. Creation of external market
8. Removal of competition by the large scale industries
9. Classification and standardization of cottage product
10. Development of transport and communication
11. Organization of cottage workers
12. Purchase by the government
13. State support