Rangpur potters struggling hard against invasion of plastic wares

RANGPUR, Apr 24: The potters in Rangpur district are passing tough days and struggling for their survival as products of the traditional cottage industries are losing market to plastic products.
Local potters make different kinds of earthenwares like pots, tops, jars, curd making pots, flower pots, coin saving banks, and toys but their demand is gradually decreasing  as people find  alternatives made of plastic and other materials which are convenient and durable.
Due to increase in prices of wood, mud and other materials, potters now can make only a little profit from their products.
"Now we can hardly earn Tk 65-75 a day which is too meager to maintain a family," said Jotish (60), a potter of Hindupara village under Mithapukur upazila.
The main ingredient which is essential to make these products is called potter's soil or 'Kumar Mati'. Nowadays this sort of soil has become scanty and its price has increased abnormally. The present market price of 1000 cft of potter's soil is Tk 5,000 to Tk 6,500.
Loknath (55), a potter at Silimpur village under Pirganj upazila in Rangpur told the FE that once upon a time the earthen wares were essential for every household in rural areas. But the scenario has now changed significantly. The products made of aluminium, melamine and ceramics have captured the market. He claimed that they do not get fair price of their products due to lack of marketing facilities. They are often compelled to sell their products at a price less than the production cost.
According to sources there were over 4,000 potter families in 8 upazilas of the district but now the number has come down to about 1100. Many of them are switching over to other jobs for livelihood because of acute financial crisis.
However, earthen products like flower pot, tiles etc are still in good demand. For storing molasses pottery is still indispensable.