The last mat weavers in Ca Mau

(NLDO) - Although no longer in its prosperous period, the last mat weavers in Ca Mau are still determined to stick with their craft.

When mentioning the mat weaving profession in Ca Mau, many people will immediately think of famous mat weaving villages, such as: Tan Thanh, Tan Loc... At the time of prosperity, in these localities, every household was attached to the mat weaving profession. The market demand and product output decreased, leading to the above traditional profession gradually fading away, but many people are still determined to stick with it to preserve the traditional mat weaving profession for future generations.

Pulling the loom, Mrs. Tran Thi Nhat (65 years old; living in Tan Loc commune, Thoi Binh district, Ca Mau province) quickly sang a verse from the song "Love of a mat seller" by composer Vien Chau: " Ca Mau mats are dyed with bright colors. My work is very hard, exposed to the sun and rain. I will not sell these mats. I cannot find you, so I will rest my head on them every night."

Behind the folk songs that have brought the Ca Mau mat brand far and wide, in Mrs. Nhat's eyes, there is concern about the future of the profession. To weave a pair of finished mats, after cutting the sedge, people will use the sedge bark to transport it home, then split the sedge into small pieces, dry it in the sun until it reaches a certain dryness, then dye it.

After that, two workers have to weave continuously for many hours to create a pair of finished mats. However, the products are sold very slowly because consumers have many other choices.

"Depending on the sophistication of the product, a pair of mats can cost between 250,000 and 700,000 VND. This At Ty Spring, an acquaintance ordered me to make a few pairs of cotton mats, so I can earn a little extra money to prepare for Tet for my family. When the time comes, when old craftsmen like me are no longer around, I don't know what will happen to the mat weaving profession," Ms. Phan Thi Tim (74 years old; living in Tan Loc commune) worried.

Sharing with reporters, the last mat weavers in Ca Mau hope that the authorities will have support policies so that they can make a living from their profession and join hands to preserve the local traditional craft.

Ms. Mai Tu Nhi, Vice Chairman of Tan Loc Commune People's Committee, said that in the past, almost every household in the area had someone making mats, but now there are only a few dozen households still engaged in the profession.

"In the coming time, Tan Loc Commune People's Committee will not only encourage people to feel secure in their profession but also support them in finding outlets for traditional mat products. The locality hopes that the relevant authorities will pay attention and support so that the commune can restore and link mat making with tourism development, increasing people's income" - Ms. Nhi shared.

Below are pictures of the process of making traditional mats in Ca Mau: