RANGPUR, Dec 25: A good number of extreme poor families of the district engaged in making household appliances from bamboo are passing their days in acute misery as such products are losing appeal in recent times.
According sources the cottage industries based on bamboo, cane and some other fibrous plants are losing attraction in the region as well the country with the flourishing of plastic goods in the market. Presently plastic made products have captured the markets of bamboo made products.
The artisans of bamboo made products under the region are also facing serious setback in running their ancestral profession due to lack of adequate capital.
Failing to combat the adverse circumstances many artisans of bamboo products have already forsaken their profession and taken up new jobs. Many have become rickshaw van pullers, garments workers, day-labourers, sources said.
A number of artisans said some of the bamboo products are still in demand in both rural and town areas.
But price hike of raw materials has made it difficult for them to make expected profit from the sale of their products, they further said.
The craftsmen make different types of baskets, winnowing-fan, fish-traps, hand-fans, sitting tool, cradle and other necessary household appliances.
Rahdul Mia, an artisan of Projapara area of Pirganj upazila claimed that they do not get fair price of their products owing to lack of marketing facilities. They are often compelled to sell their products at a price less than the production cost due to lack of demand.
Some craftsmen of Badarganj and Taraganj upazila said they never got any loan from bank. They get loan from some NGOs and local money lenders but its interest is much higher.
In this situation the craftsmen of bamboo products of the region made an appeal to the government to give them easy bank loan facility or interest free loan so that they can boost up their business, they added.
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