Mayurbhanj: The Sabai craft of Mayurbhanj has now grabbed global attention and has become a trans-national craft. Mayurbhanj has become the first district ever to get an international license to export Sabai crafts.
However, there was a marked slump in the demand of Sabai products during the Covid pandemic leaving the Sabai grass craftsmen and farmers harassed and hopeless.
But the announcement of Sabai Crafts being sold internationally now has become a major reason of happiness and relief for these people.
For a place like Mayurbhanj which solely depends on agriculture, this decision has come as a welcome relief.
The district of Mayurbhanj has a considerably high tribal population which depends on sabai grass cultivation and crafts for their livelihood.
Now time has come for them to excel in their craft and earn their livelihood as well. They can now get better price for their products by selling them in international markets.
Recognized Sabai grass craftsmen such as Sumitra Barik and Urmila Dehuri are quite happy with the development and opine that now their talent will be rightly rewarded.
It is laudable that these craftsmen used to make near about 190 types of products from Sabai grass which was being sold through various Government-run stores and outlets such as Mayurashilpa.
Later those were sold at state and national-level exhibitions at greater profits and now the craft has been licensed for International markets, keeping in mind its high demand.
Worth mentioning that lately 22 types of Sabai grass products have been exported to Florida by the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS).
There are further plans of these products to be exported to America, Britain and other developed countries as per demands.
It is noteworthy that the Odisha government has granted funds worth 10 lakh each to 5 production groups to make sabai crafts so that they can be exported in near future.
Ms Kalinga