The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted businesses across the country and the weaving community is no exception. Well known for Kishuthara, women of Khangma under Yurung Gewog in Pema Gatshel are struggling to sell the textile. Taking help of social media, the weavers are trying to market it online, but that is not truly helping them.
Amid the pandemic, the women are making use of WeChat and Facebook to market their Kishuthara. But using social media to market products online comes with a cost.
They said challenges such as lack of skills to use social media and high postal charges for product transportation hinder their online business.
“With no technical knowledge, it’s difficult. We don’t even know how to post on social media. So, we ask help from others who know. We used to weave three to four kiras in a year. When we sell online, it takes more time and we cannot sell as per our expectations,” said Choney Zangmo, a weaver of Khangma.
“We are able to sell quite a few but we don’t get the price like we used to before. The price keeps reducing when we ask others to market for us. We spend a huge amount buying silk and other materials. And we end up selling it at a lower price when sold online,” said Sherab Dema, another weaver.
“Some help us to sell by posting in the Facebook and WeChat. They deduct charges saying postal charge and others. So, we get a very less amount in our hand. It is a huge loss for the weavers,” said Meley Wangzin, one of the weavers.
Before the pandemic, weavers in Khangma used to earn a minimum of Nu 100,000 annually.
“In the past, we used to send our textiles through people doing business. They used to sell it for us at a better price. But that we cannot do that anymore,” added Choney Zangmo.
With an unpromising market, the Kishuthara weavers will have to wait for the pandemic to get over. Today, nearly 70 households of Khangma Chiwog are dependent on the textile.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Sonam Pem
