Shazops in Trashiyangtse are facing shortage of quality raw materials to produce traditional Dhapas and other wooden handicrafts.
Their supply of raw materials now comes from western part of the country. They travel to places like Nobding under Wangduephodrang to collect raw materials, commonly known as Bhao and Zha.
It takes them weeks and even months to find the raw materials. Previously, they used to get it from their own Dzongkhag.
The reason why the Shazops hunt for Bhao and Zha is because of its high price. Depending on the pattern of the Bhao and the quality of the tree it comes from, a Dhapa can fetch more than Nu.10,000.
Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag is known for producing finest traditional Dhapa or wooden bowl. Most of these traditional wooden handicrafts that are available in the country are produced in Trashiyangtse.
“It is very rare to find Bhao in Tashiyangtse now. We used to find raw materials in the eastern Dzongkhags before,” said Tashi from Bumdeling. He said they might have to use other soft trees in future as procuring raw materials is becoming difficult by the day.
The Shazops are forced to depend on locally available raw materials. The wooden handicrafts produced from materials other than Bhao and Zha earn them less money.
The Shazops are also worried that the work of Shazo might disappear in the future. The number of Shazops in the Dzongkhag has already come down to 15, compared to 20, a few years back.
