U Tin Oo, owner of the Win Ngwe Toe grass broom business in Yangon, vows to sustain his business of making traditional brooms, which he thinks is a big contributor to the local economy.
“Despite challenges such as rising raw material prices, transportation costs and labour shortages in the Myanmar broom industry, I’m determined to sustain our business for as long as I live, not solely for profit but to ensure its survival and positive impact on the local economy,” he said on Saturday.
“Our primary aim is not just financial gain but to provide job opportunities and generate income for the local community.”
Htoo Aung Kyaw, 42, a worker employed by the Win Ngwe Toe grass broom business, said: “I’ve been here since I was over 20 years old, relying on this job to earn my livelihood and support my family.”
U Tin Oo has been running the broom-making business since 1991.
“In our village, every household can make brooms. Our profits only cover basic needs like food now, so we can’t expect the same profit as before,” he said.
More than 60,000 broomsticks are exported each month and more than 2,000 broomsticks produced each day, he said, speaking of the production for his business.
Owner of the Kyaw grass broom business, Myo Win, said, “I believe Myanmar’s traditional broom will endure despite competition from plastic alternatives because it’s an essential household item.”
“Unlike plastic brooms, ours can effectively sweep away sand while maintaining its quality.
“Our main export markets are India and Malaysia. Last year, we exported over 60,000 broomsticks, but this year as we don’t have enough workers and materials cost more, we could only manage over 30,000,” he said.
He added that although they are facing lower profits due to the challenges, they are committed to continuing the business. — Xinhua
