Red brickmakers barely survive on their income<\/p>\n
By Agus Maryono<\/p>\n
PURBALINGGA, Central Java (JP): Patience pays off. That is the
\nphilosophy of 60-year-old Martaja, who ekes out a living by
\nmaking bricks.<\/p>\n
"It is not difficult to make red bricks, only patience is
\nrequired because of the lengthy process," he said. Three weeks
\nare needed from the molding until the firing stage.<\/p>\n
Martaja is one of 3,000 residents of the villages of Dawuhan
\nand Bojanegara in Padamara subdistrict, Purbalingga regency,
\nCentral Java, who are engaged in the production of red bricks.<\/p>\n
It is also patience which helps them maintain the business,
\nsince their income has sharply dropped. They hope the economic
\ncrisis will soon pass so that they can make a better living.<\/p>\n
"It is better to maintain the business than to have nothing to
\neat. What can we do? We can only rely on this activity," said
\nMartaja.<\/p>\n
Brick-making takes place on rice fields.<\/p>\n
"Nearly 30 percent of the land here is open for red brick-
\nmaking. Not the whole area because we still need land to grow
\nrice," Martaja told The Jakarta Post, who met him recently at his
\nplace of work in a rice field in Bojanegara village.<\/p>\n
He said some brickmakers use their own rice fields, others
\nrent land at Rp 5,000 per ubin (14 square meters) per year.<\/p>\n
"The land from which red bricks are made is usually not
\nfertile," Martaja said.<\/p>\n
With the ongoing monetary crisis, which first hit the country
\ntwo years ago, the price of red bricks has also increased, but
\nessential foodstuffs have gone up higher. His income is not
\nsufficient to meet his daily needs.<\/p>\n
"Formerly the price of red bricks was only Rp 65 a piece. It
\nprovided us with an adequate income because rice cost Rp 900 per
\nkilogram at the time.<\/p>\n
"Now red bricks are sold for Rp 100 a piece, but rice has
\nincreased to Rp 2,800 a kilogram. In reality, we now gain less,"
\nsaid Martaja, who has been in the red brick business for more
\nthan 10 years.<\/p>\n
"In short, the income only covers the cost of daily needs. I
\nbecome short of cash if my bricks do not sell quickly," he added.<\/p>\n
Mihroji, 65, a fellow villager who has been in the red brick
\nbusiness for more than 15 years, shares the same story.<\/p>\n
"Apart from the high prices of essential foodstuffs,
\nproduction costs have increased," said Mihroji, who gets the raw
\nmaterial for red brick production from rented land.<\/p>\n
"The rent is never increased. But merang (paddy straw) used
\nfor firing red bricks is now more expensive. "One truck load of
\nmerang used to cost Rp 25,000. Now it is Rp 50,000," said
\nMartaja.<\/p>\n
Assisted by four workers, whose daily wages are Rp 6,000, he
\ncan produce an average 15,000 pieces of well-baked red bricks per
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Mihroji is also able to mold an average of 500 raw red bricks
\na day.<\/p>\n
"We do not feel compelled to reach that number. It depends on
\nour health and our needs. If we do not feel fit or if we feel
\nlazy, we produce only 200 pieces a day," said Sukamto, 20,
\nMartaja's son who assists his father.<\/p>\n
In brief there are only three important stages of the process:
\nmolding, drying and finally firing, then the bricks are ready for
\nsale.<\/p>\n
When a sufficient number of bricks have been molded, the next
\nstage of the process is drying them in the sun.<\/p>\n
"The molded bricks must be dried. When they are fairly dry
\nthey are ready for firing," said Martaja.<\/p>\n
He said it takes 14 days for bricks to dry. "Provided it does
\nnot rain. If it rains frequently additional days are needed for
\ndrying," he added.<\/p>\n
When it rains he uses a 50-meter tarpaulin to protect the
\nbricks from the downpour. "The price of the 50-meter tarpaulin
\nhas considerably increased. It used to cost Rp 10,000, now it is
\nRp 50,000. But it lasts for more than half a year," said Martaja.<\/p>\n
The firing process takes one week.<\/p>\n
The process starts with the forming of a heap of red bricks in
\nthe shape of a mountain or pyramid. Each 50-centimeter interval
\nspace is kept open to allow room for the merang to fire all
\nbricks. A heap of 10,000 red bricks can reach a height of three
\nmeters. A roof is built over the heap, but the structure remains
\nwithout walls. "It is important to protect the bricks from rain
\nwater," said Martaja. He is not afraid of a fire because the
\nfiring of red bricks does not result in flames. The bricks only
\nsmolder.<\/p>\n
After this the well-baked, light red bricks, having gone
\nthrough the firing process, are ready for sale. They are sold
\nonly in the vicinity of the production site. "Usually the
\ncustomers come here. Orders can be delivered or transported by
\nthe customers themselves. In the case of delivery, an additional
\ncost of Rp 10 is charged per piece, making the price of the red
\nbrick Rp 110 a piece," said Martaja.<\/p>\n
"Praise God, we can still eat. Let's hope the monetary crisis
\nwill pass soon, and essential foodstuffs become cheaper so we can
\nsave," said Martaja.<\/p>\n
He said he had never had difficulty in marketing his products.
\n"I believe there are more people constructing houses and
\nbuildings. They need red bricks. I am therefore optimistic that
\nour product will continue to be in demand," said Mihroji. Martaja
\nagreed.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/red-brickmakers-barely-survive-on-their-income-1447893297",
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