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.