Economy

Trained in carpet weaving, thousands of Afghan women provide for their families

By Omar

The carpet weaving industry is continuing to grow in Afghanistan's western region, offering women an important opportunity to earn money and support their families. Some 500,000 people in the western region are weaving carpets, more than 70% of whom are women, according to data from the Herat Carpet Sellers Union. [Omar/Salaam Times]

HERAT -- The carpet weaving industry is continuing to grow in Afghanistan's western region, offering women an important opportunity to earn money and support their families.

Some 500,000 people in the western region are weaving carpets, more than 70% of whom are women, according to data from the Herat Carpet Sellers Union.

Of those women, nearly 30% began carpet weaving in the past year.

Mahgul, 32, has been working in one of the carpet weaving workshops in Injil district for the past six months.

Afghan women weave a carpet September 28 in Injil district, Herat province. [Omar/Salaam Times]

Afghan women weave a carpet September 28 in Injil district, Herat province. [Omar/Salaam Times]

A mother of three, Mahgul said she earns 4,000 AFN ($45) monthly weaving carpets.

"My husband has a thrift store and earns 200 to 300 AFN (about $2-3) daily," she said. "Our economic problems have eased a bit since I have started working and earning money."

"I work at the carpet weaving shop from 8:00am to 4:00pm," she said. "I was not familiar with carpet weaving in the beginning, but now I can weave any kind of carpet and am very happy that I can support my husband."

Mahgul said that staying at home was very difficult for her, but her mental health and financial situation have improved since she started working outside her home.

Parigul, a 24-year-old mother of one, also said she is able to support her family with the 5,000 AFN ($57) she earns monthly from weaving carpets.

"My husband migrated to Iran five months ago to find work, but there is no work in Iran either and he wants to come back," said Parigul, who has been working in a carpet weaving shop in Injil district for the past eight months.

"I was unemployed before this job and was staying at home. Now, I have learned carpet weaving and I have an income too," she said, adding that she is happy to be able to work outside her home.

"I have been covering all the costs of the last five months with my income," she said.

Alleviating poverty

Most women weaving carpets in Herat are the sole breadwinners of their families.

Fatima Mohammadi, 15, a resident of Herat city, turned to carpet weaving and now plays a major role in the livelihood of her family.

Her father drives a rickshaw and earns less than 200 AFN ($2) daily, she said.

"We are an eight-member family and my father's income cannot cover all our family's needs," she said. "My monthly salary in the carpet weaving shop is 5,000 AFN, which is great support for my family."

"I had to learn carpet weaving since I could no longer go to school," said Mohammadi, who is in 9th grade.

"Now I know how to weave carpets and have an income. Once the schools reopen, I will attend school for half day and weave carpets for the other half to support my family."

Mohammadi added that she is happy that she can help her father support their family.

Khadija Rezae, 38, a mother of six, said her husband is unemployed, which makes her the only breadwinner for her family.

"My monthly salary is 6,000 AFN ($68) and I work from morning until evening in the carpet weaving shop," she said.

"My husband was working for the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock under the previous government. He was let go from work and has been jobless for several months."

"We manage -- to an extent -- with the salary I get, but we have economic problems," she said. "It would have been very difficult if I did not have this job."

Industry growth, export problems

The carpet manufacturing industry in western Afghanistan has grown by 30% as more people become weavers.

Mohammad Arif Naderi, head of the Herat Carpet Sellers Union, said that 1.2 million square metres of traditional carpet was manufactured throughout the country in the first six months of the current solar year.

"Most traditional carpets are weaved by women at home," he said. "Weaving traditional carpets is time consuming. Completing a 12 square metre carpet takes more than six months."

"The main problems faced by the carpet industry in Afghanistan are a lack of exports and the high cost of raw materials," he said.

"Until last year, Afghan carpets were being exported to Europe, the United States, Canada, the Arab world and Asian countries," Naderi said.

However, the closure of air corridors and a decrease in international flights means there have been no exports.

Since Afghan carpets are no longer exported, some of them are now smuggled to Iran and Pakistan, according to Ezatullah Yousufi, a carpet seller in Herat city.

"Traditional carpets were exported via air to different countries in the past, but now since the air routes are closed, Afghan carpet is smuggled to the neighbouring countries and then exported to international markets under their name," he said.

Although the quality of hand weaved domestic carpets is very high, their prices has dropped up to 10% due to a lack of direct exports, he added.

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I would like to contribute by selling these carpets in Malaysia. How do I go about it?

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Wow, what an excellent report. Fifty thousand people are employed in the carpet-weaving enterprise and have income. It means that fifty thousand families have a source of income. This work keeps Afghanistan's carpet-weaving industry alive and, in the meantime, encourages Afghanistan's reputation because Afghan carpets are the finest carpets in the world, and the carpets of no other country have been able to replace them. In addition to being elegant, these carpets are made of entirely natural raw materials, adding to their beauty and persistence. Besides, I ask the international organizations to support this industry in marketing and finding markets for sale so that these carpet weavers can sell their products at a reasonable price.

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Women complement the society. No community can make progress without the active presence of women. No country has been able to achieve progress and peace by silencing the voice of women in society. As the Taliban are trying to isolate women, I read daily in the media that women are making progress in all aspects. The Taliban will be able to prevent girls' education for a year or two, but one day they will have to let them go to school. I am sure that the Taliban will never succeed in their sinister agenda against women, and as always, Afghan women will win the battle against ignorance.

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For the foreign organizations operating in Afghanistan who distribute a kg of beans, peas, etc., to the people in the name of humanitarian aid, it would be better to invest in the carpet weaving industry and different provinces of Afghanistan. On the one hand, the people can be freed from receiving charity in the name of humanitarian aid and can also be engaged in work. So far, foreign institutions have only been able to force people to beg and teach them different ways. Suppose they are helping the poor Afghan people. In that case, they should focus on this area and develop the carpet weaving industry so that the women can get a fixed salary with dignity and respect. They will feel comfortable and think they have worked and received their salary. Unfortunately, I would like to remind you that carpets made by Afghans are mostly first transferred to Pakistan and then exported to foreign countries with the name and brand of Pakistan. Pakistanis get it much cheaper than the market price. They put their label on it and then sell it in their name.

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It is hoped that foreign organizations will help in carpet weaving. It would be good if the organizations set up carpet weaving centers in different provinces of the country and give training to women in this field. This way, Afghan women will find sources of income for their families.

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