Rangpur potters in distress
Our Correspondent | Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Our Correspondent
RANGPUR, Mar 15: The potter families of Rangpur district have been passing hard days and is switching over to other jobs for livelihood owing to severe financial crisis. Once upon a time the earthen wares were essential for every household in rural areas. But the scenario has now changed significantly. The main ingredient which is necessary to make these products is called potter's soil or 'kumar mati'. Nowadays this sort of soil has become scarce and its price has been increased abnormally. The present market price of 1000 cft of potter's soil is Tk 4,500 to 6,000. Abul Kashem (50), a potter of Pirgonj Upazila in Rangpur district told the FE that the products made of aluminium, melamine and ceramics haves captured the whole market. He claimed that they do not get fair price of their products due to lack of marketing facilities. As a result, they are often compelled to sell their products at a price less than the production cost. According to sources there were 4,000 potter families in 8 Upazilas of the district but now the number has come down to 1200. Many of them left their profession and had joined new jobs. However, earthen products like flower pot, tiles etc are still in good demand. For storing molasses pottery is still indispensable. Compared to ceramic and melamine products the production cost of earthenware is trivial. But it is sad but true that the creative and hard working potters always have to suffer from extreme financial crisis. Many think that commercial banks and NGOs should make loans available to these industrious people. They also have sought financial support from the government for saving their ancestral profession from ruination. Conscious people of the region opined that there should be a proper government policy to save and expand the age old industry. Latest technology should be introduced in this sector to boost up the traditional industry and also create employment opportunity, they added.
RANGPUR, Mar 15: The potter families of Rangpur district have been passing hard days and is switching over to other jobs for livelihood owing to severe financial crisis. Once upon a time the earthen wares were essential for every household in rural areas. But the scenario has now changed significantly. The main ingredient which is necessary to make these products is called potter's soil or 'kumar mati'. Nowadays this sort of soil has become scarce and its price has been increased abnormally. The present market price of 1000 cft of potter's soil is Tk 4,500 to 6,000. Abul Kashem (50), a potter of Pirgonj Upazila in Rangpur district told the FE that the products made of aluminium, melamine and ceramics haves captured the whole market. He claimed that they do not get fair price of their products due to lack of marketing facilities. As a result, they are often compelled to sell their products at a price less than the production cost. According to sources there were 4,000 potter families in 8 Upazilas of the district but now the number has come down to 1200. Many of them left their profession and had joined new jobs. However, earthen products like flower pot, tiles etc are still in good demand. For storing molasses pottery is still indispensable. Compared to ceramic and melamine products the production cost of earthenware is trivial. But it is sad but true that the creative and hard working potters always have to suffer from extreme financial crisis. Many think that commercial banks and NGOs should make loans available to these industrious people. They also have sought financial support from the government for saving their ancestral profession from ruination. Conscious people of the region opined that there should be a proper government policy to save and expand the age old industry. Latest technology should be introduced in this sector to boost up the traditional industry and also create employment opportunity, they added.