Moment of Truth for Plered and Kasongan Earthenware Business

Kompas/AGUS SUSANTO

Pottery craftsman activity in Anjun Village, Plered District, Purwakarta, West Java, Saturday (27/7/2020). During the Covid-19 pandemic, public interest in local pottery increased.

The pandemic has seen the potter’s wheel at the Plered earthenware center in Purwakarta, West Java, spin faster and faster. However, more than just adding to rupiah coffers, the pandemic also teaches lessons on the importance of innovation.

It has been a long time since Mamit, 41, last felt such a passion for work. On Saturday (8/8/2020), his body was covered in brown clay. His sharp eyes guided his skilled hands in processing 1.5 quintals of clay mixed with water and sand. From that much material, he can make 70-80 flower clay pots with a diameter of 15 centimeters and a height of 19 cm. And there are many orders.

"I usually only make a maximum of 50 pots per day," he said, wiping the sweat from his temples.

When you watch Mamit at pottery, everything seems so easy. It takes five minutes to produce one piece of pottery. Twenty years of experience in the business do show.

Also read: Maintain Commitment in Economic Recovery Plan

Mamit\'s hands quickly form a pot. His toes operate the potter’s wheel. He uses a piece of bamboo to smooth the surface of the vessel. To measure its height, he used a plastic straw and a wooden stick.

He is paid Rp 1,500 per pot. When demand soars like now, he earns Rp 700,000 per week, up from Rp 500,000 previously.

Moments like these are rare. The last time this happened 14 years ago. At that time, in 2006, the Kasongan pottery center in Yogyakarta was affected by the earthquake. Production (in Kasongan) had stopped, so pottery orders went to Plered.

During this pandemic, Kasongan\'s pottery productions were also driven by local demand. Clay pots and sinks have become favorites with customers. "Sales have increased 200 percent," said Timbul Raharjo, 50, owner of a handicraft business, PT Timboel, in Kasongan.

The price of a pot is Rp 10,000 to Rp 15,000 for a small one and Rp 30,000 for a large one. A sink costs Rp 200,000 to Rp 250,000 per piece.

The pandemic has curbed activities across the world, including in Indonesia.

This time, the demand growth was unexpected. The pandemic has curbed activities across the world, including in Indonesia. New habits have emerged, one of which is farming at home.

The head of development at the Plered Ceramics Center, Mumun Maemunah, said of the 157 pottery business units in Plered, about 90 percent serve flower pot requests.

Also read: Recovery Needed Not Just To Avoid Recession

Demand surged. Stacks of clay pots were also seen on the terrace of a shop near the Anjun-Plered highway. Fifty-three-year-old Yati, owner of a pottery shop and business, said that the flood of orders began in early June. Demand has doubled her business’s production to 480 pots per week. Previously, buying and selling was done by telephone. Now, buyers come straight to the shop.

"Most of the buyers are from Jakarta and Tangerang [Banten]. [They are willing] to buy at higher prices,” said Yati, who charges Rp 15,000 to Rp 150,000 per pot.

In South Tangerang, Banten, clay pots have piled up at some roadside kiosks. The buyers’ cars are parked on the road, causing traffic congestion on the Graha Raya and Graha Bintaro residential complex roads. "It\'s very crowded, especially on weekends. [People] buy ornamental plants and form long lines,” said Susie, a resident of Graha Bintaro.

KOMPAS/MELATI MEWANGI

A row of potted pottery for ornamental plants that is in demand by buyers at a production site in Anjun Village, Plered District, Purwakarta, on Friday (7/8/2020).

Yati said the potential for additional demand was still high. However, she could not simply increase production. She is assisted by 20 workers, the majority of whom are over 40 years of age. That number is less than 50 percent of her staff nine years ago.

Ups and downs

People should be grateful for economic activity that still running fast during the pandemic. However, Plered has experienced ups and downs in the pottery business for a long time. Prosperity does not last long when unexpected things happen, such as an earthquake in the past or, now a pandemic. Innovation must be the main aim for survival.

Also read: Purchasing Power Must Be Increased to Avoid Recession

At least six people have taken this to heart. They are believed to be the pioneers of Plered pottery-making, namely Sarkun, Aspi, Warsya, Entas, Suhara and Ki Dasjan in 1904. Long gone, they have passed their knowledge, including the knowledge with regard to the duration of burning the earthenware.

In Plered, earthenware made from clay is burned at a temperature of 900-1,100 degrees Celsius for 18 to 24 hours. Long burning makes the pottery more durable, hard to crack.

Moreover, the clay in Plered has a mineral composition dominated by illete and chlorette. That means the process of forming and burning takes longer. However, that pays off in greater flexibility and durability of the pottery.

Kompas

Workers beautify pottery made of clay at the Timboel Keramik studio in the Kasongan pottery industrial center, Bantul, DI Yogyakarta, on Thursday (11/8/2011).

It’s all proven right. Domestic and foreign consumers are interested in it. In 1985, pottery began to be exported in a copper-colored style made by Suratani craftsmen. The ornamental ceramics became increasingly successful when they penetrated the export markets in 24 countries in 2010.

However, its resilience was tested due to a lack of innovation in the last few years. In 2014, they still exported 75 containers. But in October 2019, exports dropped to only 55 containers. One container contains 2,500-4,000 pieces of pottery of various types and sizes.

Without fresh ideas from the new generation, the pottery products lack a creative image. As a result, the business quiets down.

The head of the small and medium enterprises division at the Purwakarta Industry and Trade Office, Ahmad Nizar, said regeneration and innovation were still obstacles. Without fresh ideas from the new generation, the pottery products lack a creative image. As a result, the business quiets down.

According to data from the Ceramics Development Center at the Purwakarta Industry and Trade Office, the number of workers in the pottery business continues to decrease. In 2014-2016, the number of workers was around 3,000 people. By 2018, that had number dropped to only 2,406. This was followed by a decrease in the number of business actors.

Of the 268 units in 2014, only 157 are left. The total production is 1.2-1.3 million pieces.

"Ideally, the production is 5.68 million pottery pieces. To achieve this, we will cooperate with higher education institutions related to the analysis of the ceramic business. Strong integration from upstream to downstream is needed so that production here remains high,” said Nizar, who has innovated to produce ventilation, terracotta tiles and brickwork from pottery waste.

Kompas

Sarjiyem (50) peddles pottery produced in the Kasongan area, Tirtonirmolo Village, Kasihan, Bantul, DI Yogyakarta, on Saturday (16/4/2016).

Looking for stability

Business stability is of the essence. Asep Supriatna, 39, owner of an earthenware business in Plered, is trying not to be lulled by the current high demand. The main focus has always been regular customers and private consumers who need pots.

“Seasonal buyers like to speculate with prices. After they buy pots [in large numbers], the price would surge. When the trend [of home farming] is gone, prices can drop drastically,” he said.

Instead of following the trend, he continues to innovate. In the last three years, Asep has made a flat-bottomed pot that looks like a bamboo shaft. The price is three times that of conventional pottery. In a month, he can produce 1,500 clay pots. "Ideally, spikes in demand are the result of the craftsmen\'s innovation, not the pandemic. Regular demand is more valuable than fluctuating orders that suddenly go up high and then drop quickly," he said.

The pandemic has demonstrated the toughness of the pottery business, both in Plered and Kasongan. But without good planning, this unusual moment will just pass by, not doing any good for the future of this people’s industry. We hope not.