One of our respectable export commodity is rattan crafts. About 70% rattan in the world comes from our country. And I have to be proud, because Cirebon, where I live now, is national’s biggest rattan crafts producer.
People around the world likes rattan because it’s more eco friendly than woods. It’s easier to harvest and it grows faster, yet it’s durable and elastic that is easier to be shaped.
Here in Cirebon, there used to be a lot of rattan craft industry centers. They produced furnitures from rattan braids, as chairs, tables, baskets, and many more. It used to be so well-known, but now it’s almost gone.
Yeah, the our local rattan industries is dying. Lack of raw materials is the main factor. Actually, world demand over rattan is still high, but then we have this strong competitor from China, who produces rattan craft massively with cheaper price.
Who’s to blame?
Believe it or not, we export the raw materials to China ourselves. Yeah, I know. It sounds awful. It is.
Over 60% of 400 rattan craft industries in Cirebon went bankrupt. Hundreds of ready stock rattan crafts piling up the stores, and eventually will get perished by time and weather.
There used to be this giant rattan chair in the middle of the road when we are entering the city, but now it’s not there anymore. It’s kinda sad, because the industry once our pride, now is coming to the end.
However, I’m still proud of rattan. In fact, I’m sitting on one right now. I really hope our rattan producers will get a better condition in the future, as our goverment has to do something with the raw material exporting stuffs.
For the time being, let’s buy and use local rattan crafts!
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