In a remote corner of Gournadi Upazila of Barisal, there is a village known as “Pakha Palli” (the village of fans), its name earned from the villagers’ source of livelihood by producing “tal pakha” (hand fans made of palm leaves), a most sought-after item during hot spells and load shedding.
There are about 50 families in the village that are engaged throughout the year in producing tal pakhas.
Generally, the fan’s blade, made from a single palm leaf, is shaped like a circle and the handle is made from bamboo.
The article is popular in summer, especially during load shedding in the cities.
More than 400 people in some 50 families of Pakha Palli are now busy making tal pakhas. Some of them collect and process palm leaves, some cut them to size, some prepare and slice bamboo sticks as the handle, some stitch the handle and the blade together, while others colour or give final touches to their products.
Some are also engaged in tying the finished goods in a bundle for supply to the wholesale or retail markets far from this remote village.
During this work, many of them sing local folk songs related to the tal pakha.
An adult villager makes on average about 30 fans every day, depending on the type of fans being made. Although produced with the same material, four different kinds of fans are usually made. They are fans with handles, fans without handles, fans that can be swung 360 degrees and folding fans.
Hasem Khalifa, 57, said he and his family have been in the business for the last 20 years. His two daughters Simu and Kajal, who are studying in class 10 and nine in a local school, are also helping their parents with the work.
Harun Khalifa and Aleya Begum have a nine-member family, including their grandchildren, who depend on the family’s tal pakha business.
However, this cottage industry that has been carried on by generations now faces many crises.
Because of natural disasters, the tal pakha makers face an acute shortage of palm leaf and bamboo sticks, and buy them from distant places for high prices.
Demand for fans is highest during the summer season; they do the job nine months a year excepting the three months of winter.
Harun Khalifa says his family produces 100 fans on an average every day at the cost of Tk2.50 to Tk11 per piece and sell them in the wholesale market for Tk3.5 to Tk17 per piece. Kasem Khalifa, another producer from the village, says wholesale buyers visit the area once a week. They sell the fans to retailers for Tk5 to Tk25.
Due to the lack of credit or finance, many producers have to take loans from their wholesalers before peak production seasons, and, as a result, do not receive a decent price, producers say.
There is no government assistance or easy loans for this trade. Producers say microfinance or similar schemes may work wonders for the village. The lack of finance and institutional support has made at least fifty families leave the trade in a decade.
The villagers say that such provisions can help sustain the livelihood of many people as well as help preserve what is not only a useful accessory but also a cultural heritage.