Handicraft Development Enhances Poor Families’ Income and Decreases Unemployment Rate [Archives:2001/07/Business & Economy]

Mahyoub Al-Kamali 
In pursuit of job opportunities to provide good incomes for their poor families so as to mitigate their difficult living conditions, and bearing in mind the migration of labor from the countryside to the big cities, those who are skilled in handicraft production find it a secure way to earn a living. 
In response to a report published by Yemen Times on popular crafts and the importance of the development and preservation of these inherited skills, a young man, Ali Mohamed Al-Razihi, inside the folk-market at Bab Al Yeman said: “manual industries help us to face unemployment, and daily wages support the maintenance of our families in a country where job opportunities are nil and illiteracy dominates. Handicraft skills help us to search for free or private occupations.” he added: “Handicrafts represent a sources of income for thousands of families who depend on the income they get from selling their own products, a fact that justifies Yemenis as active, hard working people.” 
Those interested in Yemen’s economic affairs estimate that handicraft industries absorb 19% of the capable work force. Those observers also estimate that the industry is highly concentrated in the Old market of Sana’a and the rural area of Sana’a governorate, which accounts for a total share of 40% of the industry, while Taiz Old market and the surrounding rural areas of the city account for 10%, Aden 10%, Hadramout 10% with 25% concentrated in other regions of Yemen. 
Various multi-crafts in Old Sana’a 
In the unique market located in Old Sana’a, handicraft industries are distinct manifestations of the skill and the wide activities of the workers. Hung on entrances and inside the small shops which are attractively found in the narrow streets , visitors to the market can see multi-colored handicraft products which promise good financial returns for their sellers. 
Ironsmith Workshops 
The owner of a small ironsmith workshop told us: “The preparation and use of iron is an ancient skill in Yemen; and though some iron-made products are imported from abroad, our traditional workshop manufactures farmer’s tools, builders’ requirements as well as prisoners’ fetters.”Mr. Mansour Ghailan, an ironsmith added: “The soaring prices of imported iron-bars which we re-shape, cause problems for our small workshops and negatively affect our sales figures.”
Silver Smithery 
At one of the silver workshops in Old Sana’a, artisans make distinctive silver products and display them for sale. Products are of various sizes with symbolic features, with some representing ancient times and kings who had ruled Yemen at the time of the ancient civilizations. Others are women’s requirements or men’s accessories used in weddings, religious occasions and at week-ends. 
Smith Amin Mohamed Asabri spoke to us: “The highest sales which are reported are of those components which are put on daggers, which are white arms carried by males as a traditional belt very common among Yemeni tribes.” He added,: “about 10% of our silver artefacts are bought by Arab and foreign tourists who visit this market regularly.”
 
Types of Yemeni Daggers 
“Janabi” or Yemeni daggers, are of different types, all available in this market. Daggers are classified as Sana’ani or Hadrami. But as Yahia Nasser Almisouri told us, the white dagger is considered the most expensive. It’s hilt is made out of rhinoceros horns that are smuggled from Africa. He added that this industry makes good moneys for those working in it. One white dagger may vary in price between YR 150,000 to 1,000,000. The quality of the dagger’s hilt and the silver added to its edges, in addition to the type of the necessary holding belt, decide the price. 
Here, there are some smiths whose jobs are to sharpen these white-daggers to enable carriers to protect themselves against any attack. Sharpening a single white-dagger may cost YR1500. 
Economical Feminine Handicrafts 
Women have a distinguished share in making artefacts sold at this market. However, rural women’s products represent the biggest share of the exhibits. These women spend most of their time weaving folk costumes and making various other craft products from palm fronds. 
Sellers here acknowledge that women’s products are accepted in the market. The products are souvenirs, frankincense containers, house decorations, shopping-sacks or head-covers that protect against sun-stroke. All these hand-made products make good money for these low-waged people. 
Handicraft Show-room 
For the sake of handicraft preservation, the Yemeni government has established a “Samsara” or an old building used as a show-room, located in the center of Old Sana’a. Handicraft skills are promoted through training courses, especially in the following four fields: acquiring skills in silver smithery, wood carving, leather products and textile products. 
A training course here starts with drawing on paper for a month, where trainees are given the basics and this is followed by field or on-job training for 15 days after which the third stage includes making decorative works for another 15 days. 
After a visit to this market, most visitors are convinced that the development of the handicraft industry really helps the unemployed to obtain jobs and thereby diminishes the unemployment figure in Yemen which is estimated, according to non-official estimates, at 35%. 
Finally, visitors can be clearly aware of how Yemenis are hard-workers, proficient in all sorts of manual skills, ready to face the soaring prices of food, supplies and services.

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