KABUL (SW) – In an exclusive survey by Salam Watandar, a number of female entrepreneurs and artisans hailing from various provinces across the country have voiced concerns over the current market stagnation and economic recession.
These women, engaged in commerce and industry, expressed dismay at the limited market opportunities available for showcasing and selling their products.
Despite women’s pivotal roles in driving sales and bolstering various industries, commerce and industry remain among the few and primary sectors offering some avenues for their economic engagement.
Salam Watandar conducted a survey in five northern provinces of the country, interviewing some 22 women. Among these women, seven are from Jowzjan, six from Takhar, five from Sar-e Pol, and two each from Faryab and Balkh provinces who expressed their grievances.
Most of the women interviewed for this survey report are the sole breadwinners of their families, facing serious economic challenges.
These women are active in various sectors of industry and commerce. Seven of them are involved in carpet weaving, three in needle work, three in tailoring, one in beadwork embroidery and one in hat making, one in embroidery, and six others in various handicraft production sectors.
However, traditional Afghan rugs and carpets, which women have been weaving for years, especially in these provinces, are facing a market recession. Producers of these traditional carpets in Faryab and Jowzjan complained of a slump in the market for the past two years.
According to them, recent political upheavals in the country, lack of attention from investors in this sector, and government officials’ negligence have led to a recession in the market for these handicrafts.
In Faryab Province, Latifa, has been weaving carpets for ten years, she said that her business has declined over the past two years, with her products not selling as they used to. Previously, she used to weave each meter of carpet for 300 to 400 afghanis, but due to the market recession, she now sells each meter for only 150 afghanis.
Latifa explains, “I prepare the thread myself, and my daughter and daughter-in-law weave. My daughter used to go to school. She studied until the 10th grade, but since schools closed, she only weaves carpets.”
Halima from Faryab and Rajab Khal, 27, from Jowzjan, who weave traditional rugs, also lament the lack of a suitable market and the economic challenges they face as the sole breadwinners of their families.
Halima expresses, “I take whatever rugs I have, around a meter wide and a little more than a meter long, and sell them. My two daughters and I weave at home for two days. Then I take and sell them, and they earn me 300 afghanis. With this money, we meet our needs.”
Rajab Khal also adds, “I have been weaving rugs for many years. Through rug weaving, I make a living. At first, the rugs I weaved fetched a high price, but since imported rugs entered the market, the price of our traditional rugs has plummeted. We cannot sell our rugs at the same price anymore. We demand attention by the government.”
In Balkh Province, female artisans expressed their struggle, citing unfavorable conditions for exports and a lack of interest from domestic buyers.
Raqiba Barmaki, who has been sustaining her livelihood through handicraft production for 18 years, says that the recent changes in the country have led to a recession in the handicraft market in the province.
“In the past, we had many foreign customers, and our products were in demand. We used to participate frequently in international exhibitions. Our products would sell out, and we would return to prepare more. However, it has been a long time since we participated in international exhibitions. If we do not participate in these exhibitions, everything comes to a standstill for us,” she explained.
Similarly, women artisans who have long been engaged in the handicraft sector in Takhar and Sar-e Pol provinces also report a significant decrease in income due to dwindling public interest in handicrafts and fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
Mahbuba from Takhar, who has been embroidering Balochi designs for seven years, and Maryam from Sar-e Pol, who has been making hats for the same period, share their experiences:
“I have nothing but this work, and I am responsible for my five orphaned children. It has been seven years since I did nothing other but Balochi embroidery. Currently, the Balochi needle work market has become even worse, and when Iranian traders buy, with Iranian currency losing its value, the prices of Balochi embroidery drop as well,” Mahbuba said.
“It was good in the beginning; I used to sell a hat for 100 to 200 afghanis. Now, no one buys it even for 30 afghanis. There is no market at all. Because there is no market, my life is not going well because I have to buy raw materials for the hats, and sometimes I cannot even afford basic necessities,” adds Maryam.
Call to action
Advocates for women’s rights emphasize the importance of women’s involvement in the industrial and commercial sectors for the country’s growth and call on the de-facto government and other organizations to support female entrepreneurs and artisans.
Soraya Paikan, a women’s rights activist, states, “The participation of women in industry and commerce is crucial for society. Women constitute half of society and can solve many societal and family problems. The government must support women in industry and those who are employed.”
Another women’s rights activist, Anisa Haidari emphasized, “At present, all offices are closed, and women can perform industrial work at home only. For example, embroidery, tailoring, and beadwork—all these tasks are performed by women artisans at home. The government must support these women.”
Abdul Rahman Ghaznawi, the head of Commerce and Industry Directorate in Takhar, promised support for female entrepreneurs, with currently 300 registered women entrepreneurs in the province. He adds that they have also established a dedicated market for female entrepreneurs in the Balochi embroidery sector.
“We facilitated opportunities for women entrepreneurs engaged in Balochi embroidery, arranged workshops, and they do sewing too. We have nearly 300 women on our roster now. We have created a separate market for them where women work independently. It is good for them to acquire Balochi embroidery from a main market. We have provided a market specifically for women,” Ghaznawi said.
Despite the challenges, Niaz Mohammad Tawab, the Commerce and Industry officer in Jowzjan, also expresses support for women carpet weavers, outlining effective plans for their work improvement.
“After the establishment of the Islamic Emirate, the presence of women in the carpet industry has increased, and international exhibitions focusing on the growth and sales of carpets have been held. This approach contributes to the growth of the carpet industry. We spare no effort in supporting the carpet industry,” he emphasizes.
It is worth mentioning that following recent political upheavals in the country, many women were unemployed and house-bounded. Many women have turned to work in those type of commerce and industrial sector to fight unemployment.
