Major Industries

Industries of Kasheli

Alongside farming, Kasheli supports a number of traditional and modern small industries. The village’s Sutar (Vishwakarma) craft community is especially well known across the Konkan.

Boat and ship building

Kasheli’s carpenters were once renowned for building galbats — the wooden cargo ships that plied the Konkan coast. Ship-owners from Karwar, Goa, Murud and Janjira came all the way to Kasheli to commission their vessels. Although the age of the galbat is past, Kasheli’s boatwrights still build excellent wooden hulls for fishing launches.

Furniture, construction and ironwork

The village carpenters produce high-quality furniture, undertake building work, and forge iron and steel tools.

Ganpati idol-making

Several skilled murtikars in Kasheli make Ganpati idols of well-regarded quality each year for the festival.

Bamboo & reed crafts

Winnowing trays, grain baskets, conical hats and storage kangis have been crafted from bamboo here for generations — a trade still very much alive.

Oil pressing

Karagirs still press oil from sesame (til), black gram (udid) and groundnut (bhuimoog) in Kasheli.

Co-operative factory

India’s **first co-operative-principles roof-tile (kaul) factory has operated successfully in the area for over 27 years**; a new branch was being readied at Vatul.

Modern small industries

• 5 flour and rice mills

• 1 timber-cutting mill

• 1 mattress factory

• 2 electrical wiring and repair contractors

• 15 gobar-gas plants

• 1 medical store

Financial support

Loans and guidance are available through the [Kasheli Vividh Karyakari Seva Sahakari Society](/page/co-operative) and the branch of the Ratnagiri District Central Co-operative Bank.