Sleman handicrafts find international market

By Singgir Kartana

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Bamboo in rural areas is most often used for simple household articles, such as baskets and containers. Walls are often made of sheets of plaited bamboo. Bamboo may also serve as firewood. All these uses have hardly any economic value.

But residents of Sleman regency, particularly in the villages of Toglengan, Malangan, Brajan, Sanan and Singojayan, some 23 kms west of Yogyakarta, are aware that bamboo can be turned into various handicrafts, thereby increasing its value.

There are 10 bamboo handicraft centers in the five villages. In addition, there are craftsmen who work individually. This industrial sector absorbs about 200 family heads.

Workers earn between Rp 5,000 and Rp 6,500 a day depending on their experience and skill. However, most workers are paid by piecework. Some workers say they earn about Rp 9,000 a day, excluding a lunch allowance.

Sales are estimated at more than Rp 500 million a month. The handicraft industry has become the economic backbone of the community in the area.

"We can say the handicraft business is the soul of the five villages because nearly two-thirds of the residents rely on the business for their income," said Parijo, 35, a craftsman from Brajan, who employs 60 workers.

Their craftsmanship is delicate and their designs artistic. A lot of variety is found among the products. The handicraft products tend to be souvenirs or decorative articles. A box used to store clothes, for example, is given an oval form resembling a ship, with delicate and artistic plait work. It is more fitting to place the boxes in hotels or art galleries than to use them to store clothes. Likewise, boxes to cover tissue dispensers of various forms and sizes are suitable for decoration as art objects.

No fewer than 200 kinds of products in various sizes and shapes are made. Among them are fruit baskets, bags, hats, lamp shades, storage boxes, tissue covers, miniature houses, miniature lamps, miniature airplanes, jewelry boxes, cosmetic boxes, etc. Nearly all the handicrafts are made with the plaiting technique. The motifs of the plait work are varied, e.g. batik designs and square motifs.

The price range of the handicrafts is between Rp 3,000 and Rp 200,000. The cheapest at Rp 3,000 is the tissue cover. The most expensive price is the lampshades at Rp 200,000 each. The product most in demand according to Kasiyam, is a shoulder bag with the measurements of 30 cms by 45 cms by 10 cms. It is priced at Rp 50,000 a piece.

The handicrafts are marketed in Yogyakarta, Bandung, Jakarta and Bali and exported to the Netherlands, Korea, Japan, the United States, France, Italy, Canada, Belgium and Singapore. The goods can be obtained by order or by direct purchase. In an effort to develop the market network, the workers participate actively in handicraft exhibitions. Some of them print simple brochures.

The craftsmen do not use all kinds of bamboo for raw material. Only the apus and wulung types are considered good for plaiting. These two types have finer fibers, are stronger and more durable, and are not easily prone to mildew compared to others. They are easy to obtain in the area. The apus type, measuring six or seven meters in length, costs Rp 2,000 to Rp 2,500, while the wulung is of the same length but with a bigger diameter and is slightly more expensive at Rp 3,000 to Rp 3,500.

"These two types are not easily infested by bubuk (small insects which eat bamboo). Soaking the bamboo in water before using it makes it more durable," said Pariyo, 56, a craftsman from Toglengan who also teaches at grade school.

The bamboo handicraft industry in the five villages actually started in the 1970s. The area was already known for its bamboo products. But at the time the products were simple household articles. These were bought by locals or traded at markets in the area.

Only at the beginning of 1987, following guidance from the Ministry of Industry office in Sleman regency, did a number of craftsmen start to learn how to make souvenirs. Some of them also received training in Jakarta. The change demanded that they continue to improve the quality of their products because of sharp competition. The change to export products has given them a larger profit margin.

"One besek (square bamboo box), which costs Rp 250, requires a piece of bamboo which can be used for making three tissue cover boxes. At Rp 3,000 a piece, the boxes yield Rp 9,000. Making souvenir articles is much more profitable," said Yanto, a craftsman from Kampung Sanan.

Now the bamboo handicraft business in the area shows considerable development. However, it is strongly regretted that the development is based on the products. There is not enough attention in the aspect of marketing, such as opening a showroom. Even in marketing they still rely on middlemen. Planning the production on a bigger scale goes together with the fear that the products might not sell. Therefore, orders must often be carried out in a hurry to meet a target. Industries with bamboo as their raw material are highly dependent on the weather, too, as the quality of bamboo is affected adversely by rain.