The deteriorated economic condition has hampered the market of handicraft products in central Daikundi province which that was famous in the past. According to the provincial directorate of information and culture, handicraft products have developed in late years as over 30 women’s handicraft shops had been opened in Nelli, the provincial capital, but now the market of handicraft products has declined to its lowest but its buying and selling was still continued.
While affecting the entire country, increasing economic challenges, unemployment and lack of market in Afghanistan have caused the market for women’s handicraft products to be down in most provinces, particularly in Daikundi. There have been a large number of producers of handicrafts in the country’s central provinces particularly in Daikundi and Bamyan. They even used to export a variety of homemade products including embroidered clothes, stitching, jewels, different types of embroideries, and others to foreign countries. But, for the past few years, the industry has lacked a suitable market.
Most women in Daikundi province have found many problems being the cause of such collapse including the lack of a permanent working place and market for their handicraft products. Afghan women have been experts in producing handicrafts, and their products are appreciated worldwide.
Their handicraft products are warmly welcomed by countries in the region as well as other countries in the world, as the Afghan local dresses are worn by the women of these countries for different reasons.
Most women producing handicrafts say that an industrial park is necessary for their products so that they can increase their production rate. Such a park, if built, could help handicrafts scale up to a larger number, and at the same time can also broaden the market.
Those women who are engaged in producing handicrafts are asking the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to find market for their products. According to women engaged in handicraft production in the country, Afghan women will stop producing handicrafts in case they do not find market for their products.
In response, the IEA officials have many times assured it fully supports the local handicrafts, as they are the representative of Afghan craft and culture in the international and neighboring markets.
The market for such products can certainly be promoted by the popularization of homemade dresses, jewels and ornaments. On the other hand, raising the income tax on importing clothing is another venue of solution.
The media can also play a significant role in promoting domestic clothing and ornaments.
Saida Ahmadi
Market for women handicrafts down in Daikundi
