Herat carpet weavers complain about declining sales

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Declining sales, increase in raw material prices and lack of access to foreign markets have worried carpet weavers in western Herat province.

Yaqub Rahimi, owner of a carpet weaving shop, told Pajhwok Afghan News that most people in western parts, particularly residents of rural areas, were associated with carpet weaving.

Rahimi added since the exports of domestic and handmade carpets abroad had drastically declined, its prices in local markets had also reached their lowest level.

According to him, the government has suspended the export of local carpets, which have no good sales in domestic markets.

He hoped the government would create necessary facilities for export of carpets to neighboring countries like Iran, Pakistan and Turkey.

Due to lack of buyers at home and the suspension of export of handmade carpets to foreign countries, the sales of carpets in Herat markets have come to almost a halt.

Speaking to Pajhwok, Abdul Rahim Iqbali, one of the sellers of carpets in the province, said the increase in the prices of raw materials such as thread or yarn had caused carpet weavers to sell their products at a loss.

He added that due to the depreciation of the Pakistani and Iranian currencies against the afghani, merchants of these countries avoided purchasing Afghan carpets the way they did in the past, which had a negative impact on their business.

Mohammad Bashir Sirat, commerce and industry director of Herat, rejected the increase in raw materials’ prices, saying their administration had provided many facilities in the export and supply of raw materials for carpet weavers.

According to Sirat, their administration banned the export of thread and yarn outside the country in order to reduce the prices of raw materials.

He added they supported all traders, especially traders of handmade carpets, and were trying to pave the way for export of locally made carpets abroad again.

Carpet weaving, an ancient industry in Herat, has experienced many ups and downs in the past two decades, but currently it lacks a suitable market.

The bulk of Afghanistan’s hand-woven carpets are produced in western provinces, engaging thousands of people.

sa/ma

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