DALAT: The Dalat Besaug Festival 2023 is not only a tourist attraction, but it also provides an income boost for local artisans who create woven mats, bags, and baskets.
Kemban Ngako, a 53-year-old hand-weaver from Nanga Baoh, expressed her satisfaction with the festival’s success, as it has positively impacted her sales.
“I’m grateful that this year’s Besaug Festival has been very encouraging and has given us, small traders, an opportunity to increase our income,” she said in an interview with Suara Sarawak.
During the festival, Kemban was able to earn between RM150 to RM200 per day by selling her hand-woven products, such as baskets and mats, which continued to attract significant attention.
“All of these weavings are made by me alone without anyone’s assistance, and I had prepared them weeks in advance for the Besaug Festival,” she explained.
“I make sure to prepare them in advance so that during the festival, I can focus solely on selling without worrying about weaving them in real-time.”
Kemban further elaborated that it takes two to three days to complete a basket or mat, depending on the weaver’s speed and concentration.
Regarding the materials used in her woven products, she mentioned that they are readily available.
“Most of the materials I use are sourced from the forest, and so far, they have been easy to obtain,” she stated.
“As for the baskets, I use ropes that are sold in the market, and they are also readily accessible.”
Kemban acquired her weaving skills from her parents and friends, and she has successfully transformed her knowledge into a business.
Additionally, she disclosed the challenges she faces in terms of transportation, as Nanga Baoh is over an hour away from Waterfront Dalat and can only be reached by boat.
“Transporting our goods from Nanga Baoh is truly difficult because there are no direct land routes. We rely solely on water transport,” she explained.
“To overcome this, my sister and I have to transfer all the woven goods multiple times from the canoe to the car until everything is brought from our house.”
Undoubtedly, the journey to Dalat presents challenges, especially when transporting the woven products using canoes.
Kemban emphasized that the transportation process doesn’t end once the goods are in the boat, as it continues when transferring them to the car.
“After we finish loading the car, only then can we bring the products here. To reach this destination, we have to use the farm road,” she elaborated.
“Transportation has been the main issue in delivering these goods, but the positive response from the public makes it worthwhile.”
Kemban expressed her hope for continued success in sales, particularly during future events held in the Dalat area.
