Some info on Pottery Industry in India
Pottery industry is a major revenue generator for many rural/small-scale households. The Indian handicraft sector is a major exporter of handicrafts and other art-related products to the global markets. If you also enjoy making clay wares and you are looking for a method to transform your hobby into a revenue generator then you can refer this blog and help yourself.
History and Scope of Pottery Industry
India is one of the most important suppliers of handicrafts to the global markets. The handicraft business is expanding at a consistent pace and is spreading its wings across various nations. The pottery-making industry exported products a total value worth US$ 3.3 billion in 2012-13. Furthermore, it registered a growth of approximately 22% over the previous years.
The state of Uttar Pradesh in India is a major producer of pottery items in India. The part of the state like Khurja, Chinhar, Chunar, Phulpur, Mathura, Agra, Vrindavan, Ghaziabad, Jhansi, Moradabad, Kanpur Etmadpur, Rampur, Aligarh are majorly engaged in creating clay pottery wares and are a major producer. The pottery industry in Uttar Pradesh altogether consists of 600 units, out of which 570 are actively participating. Furthermore, the working units are divided into three categories, namely, Independent Units, Semi-Independent Units, and Dependent Units.
Overview of Indian Pottery Industry
Some of the major market players of industrial pottery in India are;
Hiltkari Pottery Palam Pottery: manufacturer of pottery products Pelican Pottery Jaipur glass industry: Producers of the famous “Blue Pottery” Heritage Pottery Blue art flower vases works Venus industries and emporium Lacmi air and potteries house Terakots: A major manufacturer and exporter of black pottery In India
Importance of Handicrafts Industry for Society
The Indian Handicrafts Industry holds a huge amount of scope for growth in the global market. The handicraft business in India has evolved over the past few years and is serving as a crucial revenue generator industry. The handicrafts industry help artisans uplift their economic conditions and reduce poverty. These artisans can work in all seasons in their leisure time. The manufacturing cost of making such handicrafts is low because the raw material such as clay is easily and locally available and they do not need to import any material from any other state or country, unlike any other industry. Due to the same reason, it is categorized as the Small Scale Industry or House Hold Industry. Furthermore, often it is called as Women-Focused Craft Industry because it is a sector mostly managed by women from their households. The women can work from home and also effectively maintain a balance in their home and work responsibilities.
The pottery industry rather the whole handicrafts industry earns from both the domestic and international markets. The abundance and easy availability of raw materials enable artisans to easily start their own small scale business anytime they wish. Also, craftspersons can work full time and generate as many items as they want. Furthermore, these craft people can manage the supply and demand for their products. They can store their products at their respective homes and sell them when there is a demand.
Skill Required for Setting-Up your own Pottery Business
If you want to start a handicraft business and make some serious money you need to sell good quality products, it is advised to learn how to make potteries. You can join courses and workshops in order to learn the basics of crafting. You can choose undergraduate degree programs in ceramics and also you can attend ceramic training workshops on wheel shaping, relief-mold construction, hand molding, and kiln safety. Also, you get to learn about making uniform pottery shapes, monitoring clay thickness, clay carving skills, and glazing techniques and equipment.
Learning Outcomes to be Achieved
- Students will be introduced to a new skill of pottery by taking them to a village or an NGO or any artist who works in pottery where they will observe the process and try to co relate with the information they have learnt in class that are involved in doing this skill well
- Students will be exposed to the process of working with potter’s wheel in school where they will try to make their own clay based products that will help them learn this skill to develop some interesting product
- Students will do a survey in their surrounding areas to understand to what extent pottery products are being used by households around them, giving them an idea on what is scope of this skill to earn a livelihood
- Students will learn to integrate various communication skills learnt in class room to project their ideas and suggestions with respect to the project in hand
Academic Integration of the Skill
I. Create a timeline on how pottery has been used in various human civilization. Add pictures of the pottery that have been found in various places and the civilization it belonged to
II. Why is clay baked after its been made into a utensil?
III. Do you think invention of wheel helped humans to make more advanced potteries? Give reasons for the same.
IV. Write a short note on the evolution of pottery since man started using clay to make utensils till date where we have evolved the art of clay baking to ceramics.
V. You want to start your own business of ceramics. Thinks of steps that you will need to do before you begin selling your first ceramic ware. Write a few lines on what actions you need to take in every step until you reach the day when you are finally selling your ceramic ware.
VI. Create an attractive poster for an exhibition that you are plant to do in your society for your ceramic ware.
VII. What are the various ways you can explore to market your ceramic ware and increase the sales?
Challenge for Students
Students have decided to help a group of potters in their community, who make beautiful stone ware products to market their products. These potters have no shop to sell their products and they usually sell their products on street side. At times they have some designers come to them and pick their products and give them a small order or so to make products. They have no regular sales channel as such to depend on.
Brainstorm with your friends on various ways in which you can help these potters to increase their sales
Day 1: Introduction to Pottery Industry
- Introduction to the skill- Pottery Industry ( Use a PPT depicting on how this has been an important skill and is bringing livelihood to many people. Some information has been given about the pottery industry in India.)
- Video link on how pottery is made Kulhad a mini documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS1cXIOM4DQ World famous Pottery | A Visit to Dharavi’s Pot Makers | Language: English – Hindi – Bing video
- Give an introduction about the organization you have tied up for students visit & the challenges they are facing
- Guide students on what should they be prepared to note and make observations on which will help them in finding answers to some of the challenges that are being faced by the organization
- Preferably make groups and assign task to each group- like taking pictures/ short videos of the visit, making a report of their visit, making a step by step note of how the activity is done
Day 2: Introduction to Organization to be visited:
Visit the organization that is working with the skill identified. Take a guided tour of the organization, understand how the product is made, from where are the raw materials procured, how people are trained and where do they sell the products. Try to understand the problem/ challenges that’s being faced by that organization in making the skill reach the markets Some of the questions that can be included in creating a journal:
- Where do you procure the raw material?
- Where does the manpower come from?
- Where do you sell the product?
- Who teaches them these skills?
- How much money does each worker make by selling these products?
- How do you manage your inventory?
Day 3- Learning the art of making diya
Day 4: Design a Questionnaire
How to design a questionnaire: Designing a Questionnaire or Survey – statistics help – Bing video
Writing Good Survey Questions – Statistics Help – Bing video
Sample Questionnaire on understanding the use of pottery items in the community
Objective: Find the consumption pattern of what kind of pottery products move fastest in the community
Pottery survey
Male:____ Female:____ ( put a tick mark)
Age group: Less than 18 years b) 18-25 years c) 26years- 35years d) above 36years
Household members at home that live with you: a) single b) 2 c) 3 d) more than 3
Do you buy pottery based item? Yes or No
What kind of items do you buy: a) Decorative b) utensils c) both
What kind of decorative items you buy: a) ceramic b) glazed pottery c) stone ware d) clay pottery
What kind of utensils have you bought: a) Dinner ware b) Water jugs c) Surais d) pots for serving and cooking
Where do you buy your pottery items from: a) local market b) Shops c) exhibitions d) whichever is easily available
What is the deciding factor for your price you pay for the pottery : a) brand name b) shop you buy from c) quality d) all three e) only a and c
What price are you will to pay for a good quality product with no brand name: a) same as available in a good shop b) Much lesser than that
Day 5: Decide on the Population to be sampled for Survey
- Once your survey is designed then you need to discuss with students the following aspects:
- What should be the sample size of the survey?
- Which locality to target to get the target customer?
- Discuss the points to keep in mind while doing the survey?
- You can show this video before students go ahead in deciding their sampling methods Collecting data – Bing video
Day 6- Analyzing the Data
Day 7: Brainstorming Session
Finding a solution to the problem (Brainstorming activities and focus group discussions- questions to be asked)
Ways to start the brainstorming session:
- Looking at the data we have concluded that_____
- So the problem lies in____
- How do we _____( INCREASE THE SALES)?
- In what ways can we_____ ( improve the product’s deign)?
- Design a way_____ ( to improve the customer satisfaction)?
Culmination of the project
Day 8- Finding a way to implement the solution (methods to be used like, poster making, banners, exhibitions)
- The presentations can be made in groups.
- Designing the culmination of the project
Day9 – Ways to present your ideas to help them convert it into sales (Preparing a Presentation to present the ideas)
Day 10- Presenting your ideas and solutions to the organization (Final day- visiting the organization or asking the representative to visit the school and see their presentation)
- Make it a judging competition for school children