Forging futures: a SWOT-driven sustainability appraisal of small-scale Dhokra metal-casting enterprises in Kondagaon of Chhattisgarh

Dhokra craftsmanship exemplifies a sophisticated entrepreneurial strategy incorporating a SWOT analysis to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This study assesses the effectiveness of the SWOT tool among entrepreneurs and offers strategic insights to enhance the Dhokra craft in Kondagaon district, Chhattisgarh, India. The findings recommend a nuanced understanding of artisans’ growth potential and challenges, enabling targeted interventions to enhance the sustainability and market reach of Dhokra products. The primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 120 Dhokra artisans via snowball sampling. The analysis employed descriptive statistics through the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the DFID Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) theoretical lens within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The key findings indicated that the primary strengths were income sources (18.84%) and employment potential (18.14%), whereas the significant weaknesses included poor infrastructure (18.59%) and limited access to forest resources (17.95%). Growth opportunities included reducing working poverty (19.54%) and promoting art through government support (18.65%). However, threats such as declining traditional livelihoods and a lack of interest from younger generations (19.43%) also prevailed. Overall, challenges from weaknesses and threats (52%) overshadowed the potential benefits (48%), with internal factors (52.70%) exceeding external ones (47.30%). These insights can aid policymakers in addressing critical issues, improving prospects for Dhokra handicrafts, and suggesting the HAND-SD model for fostering sustainable development goals.