Mat weaving business earns extra family income in Tada-U

Thinphyu mat weaving business is earning extra family income in Tada-U township, according to the mat weavers from Tada-U.
Most of the Myanmar people are using Thinphyu mat as their home furniture. Most Myanmar houses have at least one Thinphyu mat, whether it is old or new. Also, these mats are made of split cane and are suitable for Myanmar warm weather.
The main raw material to weave the Thinphyu mat is ordered from Pantanaw town. The raw canes are initially put into the water to weave the Thinphyu mat. Before putting them, they need to keep under the sun.
“The Thinphyu mat is woven with the cane strips. The 100 cane trees can weave two Thinphyu rugs. We have to split the cane. Then, we have to weave the mat before the canes are dried.
The weavers earn K 2,500 for a piece of Thinphyu mat. Although it is fewer wages, the girls are earning extra income as it is a traditional business.
After the harvest season, the girls in Tada-U townships are weaving the Thinphyu mat from April to September. Then, they are selling them back for K15,000 per mat, said a mat weaver from Ngar Yar Pyar village, Tada-U township.
There are many sizes of Thinphyu mat. But the seven feet is the biggest one for the Thinphyu mat. Also, the mat used for meditation is sold for K3,000. Therefore, the girls in Tada –U township earn extra family income by weaving for Thinphyu mat, said Ma Naing Naing Maw, a Thinphyu mat weaver.—Ye Tint (Tada-U-IPRD)/GNLM