GET CLOSE TO LOMBOK BY CRAFT

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GET CLOSE TO LOMBOK BY CRAFT
BELEKA IS HOME FOR RATTAN AND KETAK (clack) CRAFT
Lombok Island which is located in West Nusa Tenggara is famous as one of Indonesia’s tourist destinations which known by both local and foreign tourists. As a tourist destination, of course in Lombok developed handicraft arts which are very liked by the tourists to take home as souvenirs. But it turns out that even before the Lombok island became famous, handicraft arts have long been cultured and become the tradition of Sasak people (indigenous people of Lombok). There are many villages which grow and develop as handicrafts centers.

Various of rattan and clack crafts are available

Beleka Village is one of them. The village which is located 15 km east of Praya, in East Praya Subdistrict, Central Lombok District is one of the craft centers, particularly rattan and ketak craft. Besides rattan, other crafts which are produced include woodcraft, kris and ceramics craft.  This village has already been more than 25 years the supplier of the rattan for resale in Bali.
The sight of women who weave rattan is a common sight which is seen every day in Beleka village. Don’t care about the heat of air and the heat of the sun, the women sit on a mat in front of the house, with rattan on their lap while their hands swiftly move to turn rattan into handicrafts in the same time enjoy the conversation with other women. While the men farm, the women make handicrafts after the housework is done.
Craft-making process is quite difficult and needs a lot of time. Ketak (clack) and rattan wickers are polished, then are plaited or weaved as the wanted model, the last are varnished. In one day can be completed 2-3 simple rattan crafts. By these craftwomen, a simple rattan craft is valued 5,000 to 6,000 rupiahs per item. While the capital to buy rattan and ketak raw materials is around 3,000 for each craft item. For the capital, these women also get a PKK (the role of family empowerment) loan. Crafts are then purchased by wholesalers for resale in artshops in West Nusa Tenggara, Sukowati market in Denpasar, even abroad.
There are a lot of demand, both from Indonesian and foreigners. Over time, the demand for rattan and ketak handicrafts increases, even these crafts are exported to Malaysia, Singapore, China, New Zealand, Japan, the United States of America, Australia, Holland, England, France, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland. The high demand for these handicrafts makes crafters and artshop owners bring raw material from the outside Lombok island such as Flores, South Kalimantan and Sumbawa.
Ironically, however, selling prices of craft outside the Beleka village can reach tens of thousands of rupiahs, multiplied many times than the buying price. From one of the handicraft sellers is known that for rattan wicker parcel tray the price is 35,000 rupiahs, for round songket copok the price is 20,000 rupiahs, a tray made of rattan is priced 80,000 rupiahs, rattan rubbish bin is priced 150,000 rupiahs, rattan bag is priced 250,000 rupiahs, even the price of a laundry basket can reach 300,000 rupiahs. This inflated price is not enjoyed by the craftwomen since the price from the craftswomen is cheap. The wholesalers and artshop owners are the people who enjoy the benefits. This happens because of the lack of craftswomen knowledge on marketing methods and economic value of the wicker by wicker of rattan done with sweat.
Actually rattan and ketak craft business gives a big impact for the village women’s lives. Besides improve the income and welfare, it can also build self-confidence and optimism of women because they already have skills that can be a source of income in addition to the income from farming. However, the lack of marketing strategy and knowledge on the value of crafts make the benefits obtained are lacking. To be maximized, there should be made a group of women who are solidly working together starting from the preparation, planning, craft production, marketing to the monitoring and evaluation. By working in groups, it will grow a sense of togetherness and closeness so that every woman can contribute both by teaching those who have not skilled and finding ways to market the product. Perhaps government intervention is needed, to evaluate and determine the selling price so that the craftswomen do not just become production labours.

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