This document summarizes a study on pottery as a livelihood in India. It discusses the process of pottery including sourcing clay, preparing, forming, drying, firing and marketing pots. Economics are analyzed showing benefits outweigh costs. Key shocks are cracks during firing due to weather changes. Trends show earthen pots remain popular for cost and function despite competition. Demand is highest in summer and winter. Problems faced are insufficient high quality clay and low prices paid by wholesalers. Forming a producer group is suggested to improve bargaining power and prices received.

1. An In-Depth Study of Pottery as a Livelihood through
the Discussion of its Process, Shocks, Seasonality,
Trends and Economics
By Saswatik Tripathy (PDM 19)
The Dhan Academy

2. Introduction
• Pottery is one of those old livelihoods which is carried
out from the ancient era.
• The earthen pots are the first stable and long-lasting
pot invented by human.
• Since that time many materials came and inventions
intervene but nothing can replace this old art of
making a pot of soil.

3. Location Of the Study

4. Methodology of Study
• State, District, Block and the villages are Purposively
selected for the study.
• Respondents are found through the snowball
Sampling.
• Data collection is mainly done by the participatory
approaches and tested through the triangulation by
the community members.

5. Results and Discussions
The Process
Sourcing
Preparing the
clay
Making of pot
Sun drying
Coloring of
the pots
Making the ovenMarketing

6. Results and Discussions
Economics - benefit cost ratio 1.2
Particulars Amount Cost in Rupees
Cost of Soil 1 Tractor 1000
Rent of the vehicle 1 Tractor 750
Cost of labour for Soil
excavation 2 man day 700
Cost of Wood for
oven 30 kg 300
Cost of Cole for Oven 2.5 Quintal 3000
Rent of the land - 500
Producer's Own
family labour
14 skilled man days +
7 unskilled man days 6300
Total 12550
Products Amount Cost (Rs. Per unit) Total
Pitcher 30 50 1500
Big Lamp 200 10 2000
Small Lamp 400 5 2000
Rice Pot 30 55 1650
Marriage
pot 40 50 2000
Bowl 50 55 2750
Lamp stand 200 8 1600
Plate 50 35 1750
Piggy bank 30 30 900
Operational Loss (10%) 1615
Total Income 14535

7. Results and Discussions
Shocks
• The unwanted cracks and
sudden break in the pots during
taking it out of the oven is a
very big shock to the producers.
• Actually during this activity if
suddenly rain comes or the
change in atmospheric pressure
can create a huge loss to the
producers.

8. Results and Discussions
Trends
• If the trend is discussed deeply it can be told
that from the ancient period this product is in
the society.
• in the case of cost and portability earthen pots
are the people’s choice and lead like a
monopoly as a alternative of stone vessel.
• Later the metals came from copper to steel, it
has face many product rivalry .
• But after the intervention of low cost products
from China a drastic fall of market holding is
observed in the festival markets.

9. Results and Discussions
Seasonality
• During the summer and winter the
high demand of product is there.
• In the summer water pots and
during winter especially in the time
of Diwali the demand of lamp is so
high that people started making
product for this season from two
month before the seasons come.

10. Results and Discussions
Problems in the livelihood
• Insufficient good quality raw materials(soil). The soil texture which is
available is not that much smooth and tight due to the high use of
inorganic fertilizer and low organic content in the soil.
• The second problem is the low income price of the product from the
wholesalers.

11. Conclusion and way forward
• The problem of low price is a common problem in any livelihood as
the producers are scattered and represent as an individual entity.
• If the groups of people doing same livelihood come together and
represent as themselves as an institution then the bargaining power
of the producers may increase which will help to get a good price.
• Conceptual framework –
• A further study on Potentiality of promoting FPO with the potter
community can be done in future for the betterment of the
livelihood.

12. THANK YOU