The country's handicraft policy, now under consideration of the government, deserves more supportive and down-to-business treatment. The common perception that handicrafts are best suited to highlighting the country's cultural heritage with little relevance to their importance as foreign exchange earners needs to be corrected. The compulsion is more pressing, given their prospects in markets overseas. But so far, this sector has experienced very little in terms of facilitation. Although the government offers this sector some cash incentives on exports, facilitating measures for product promotion and strengthening the supply base are far from adequate. It is generally held that while lack of technology is a major drawback snagging the sustenance of the sector, absence of a design and research institute is a stumbling block to its desired growth and expansion.
Taking into account the considerably wide range of activities centring around the handicraft sector across the county, it does deserve a far more supportive handling. The fact that this sector employs a workforce of well over three million people, a major bulk of whom comprises artisans in various fields with experiences in the production process over generations, strongly points to its inherent strength. But the reality is that the country's handicraft sector is not doing well. The highest that the sector fetched from exports was in the fiscal year (FY), 2006-2007, when exports reached $ 8.16 million followed by gradual decline in the succeeding years, dropping as low as to 3.79 million in FY 2009-10. Although exports have picked up in recent times, the situation is far from rosy. The difficulties this sector is facing are many-- from access to finance to product development and adaptation, to marketing. A national policy to promote this sector has to take into account these vital issues.
The policy should, among other things, take note of the quick changes in technology and manufacturing process. Besides, there is the critical need for product adaptation. Since in the globalised world, exports are more about adaptation, the country's skills in handicraft-making should, in large part, be devoted to the adaptation needs. Industry insiders are of the view that the need for continual adaptation through market research and design innovation is integral to the development of the sector, While indigenous products may have their own attractions, it is the appropriate match with consumer preferences in export markets that can command higher returns in foreign exchange. For this, market specific plans may be taken up.
One of the disadvantages in dealing with handicrafts is perhaps the diverse array of products - of clay, wood, leather, ceramic, cane, textiles and so on -which restricts this sector from being addressed in an integrated manner. Besides, the varying nature of needs and capacities of the sub-sectors also makes the task difficult. The government, in this case, can prioritise some sub-sectors for required boost and identify their requirements through need assessment. Allocation of lands in the industrial estates of the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) could be a proactive step towards promoting the selected segments. For the sector to thrive in keeping with its potential, it is highly important that the government, in consultation with the stakeholders, gave due priority to the vital areas in need of facilitation and formulated the policy accordingly.
