Red brickmakers barely survive on their income

Red brickmakers barely survive on their income

By Agus Maryono

PURBALINGGA, Central Java (JP): Patience pays off. That is the
philosophy of 60-year-old Martaja, who ekes out a living by
making bricks.

"It is not difficult to make red bricks, only patience is
required because of the lengthy process," he said. Three weeks
are needed from the molding until the firing stage.

Martaja is one of 3,000 residents of the villages of Dawuhan
and Bojanegara in Padamara subdistrict, Purbalingga regency,
Central Java, who are engaged in the production of red bricks.

It is also patience which helps them maintain the business,
since their income has sharply dropped. They hope the economic
crisis will soon pass so that they can make a better living.

"It is better to maintain the business than to have nothing to
eat. What can we do? We can only rely on this activity," said
Martaja.

Brick-making takes place on rice fields.

"Nearly 30 percent of the land here is open for red brick-
making. Not the whole area because we still need land to grow
rice," Martaja told The Jakarta Post, who met him recently at his
place of work in a rice field in Bojanegara village.

He said some brickmakers use their own rice fields, others
rent land at Rp 5,000 per ubin (14 square meters) per year.

"The land from which red bricks are made is usually not
fertile," Martaja said.

With the ongoing monetary crisis, which first hit the country
two years ago, the price of red bricks has also increased, but
essential foodstuffs have gone up higher. His income is not
sufficient to meet his daily needs.

"Formerly the price of red bricks was only Rp 65 a piece. It
provided us with an adequate income because rice cost Rp 900 per
kilogram at the time.

"Now red bricks are sold for Rp 100 a piece, but rice has
increased to Rp 2,800 a kilogram. In reality, we now gain less,"
said Martaja, who has been in the red brick business for more
than 10 years.

"In short, the income only covers the cost of daily needs. I
become short of cash if my bricks do not sell quickly," he added.

Mihroji, 65, a fellow villager who has been in the red brick
business for more than 15 years, shares the same story.

"Apart from the high prices of essential foodstuffs,
production costs have increased," said Mihroji, who gets the raw
material for red brick production from rented land.

"The rent is never increased. But merang (paddy straw) used
for firing red bricks is now more expensive. "One truck load of
merang used to cost Rp 25,000. Now it is Rp 50,000," said
Martaja.

Assisted by four workers, whose daily wages are Rp 6,000, he
can produce an average 15,000 pieces of well-baked red bricks per
month.

Mihroji is also able to mold an average of 500 raw red bricks
a day.

"We do not feel compelled to reach that number. It depends on
our health and our needs. If we do not feel fit or if we feel
lazy, we produce only 200 pieces a day," said Sukamto, 20,
Martaja's son who assists his father.

In brief there are only three important stages of the process:
molding, drying and finally firing, then the bricks are ready for
sale.

When a sufficient number of bricks have been molded, the next
stage of the process is drying them in the sun.

"The molded bricks must be dried. When they are fairly dry
they are ready for firing," said Martaja.

He said it takes 14 days for bricks to dry. "Provided it does
not rain. If it rains frequently additional days are needed for
drying," he added.

When it rains he uses a 50-meter tarpaulin to protect the
bricks from the downpour. "The price of the 50-meter tarpaulin
has considerably increased. It used to cost Rp 10,000, now it is
Rp 50,000. But it lasts for more than half a year," said Martaja.

The firing process takes one week.

The process starts with the forming of a heap of red bricks in
the shape of a mountain or pyramid. Each 50-centimeter interval
space is kept open to allow room for the merang to fire all
bricks. A heap of 10,000 red bricks can reach a height of three
meters. A roof is built over the heap, but the structure remains
without walls. "It is important to protect the bricks from rain
water," said Martaja. He is not afraid of a fire because the
firing of red bricks does not result in flames. The bricks only
smolder.

After this the well-baked, light red bricks, having gone
through the firing process, are ready for sale. They are sold
only in the vicinity of the production site. "Usually the
customers come here. Orders can be delivered or transported by
the customers themselves. In the case of delivery, an additional
cost of Rp 10 is charged per piece, making the price of the red
brick Rp 110 a piece," said Martaja.

"Praise God, we can still eat. Let's hope the monetary crisis
will pass soon, and essential foodstuffs become cheaper so we can
save," said Martaja.

He said he had never had difficulty in marketing his products.
"I believe there are more people constructing houses and
buildings. They need red bricks. I am therefore optimistic that
our product will continue to be in demand," said Mihroji. Martaja
agreed.