Potters grouped under Potérie Locale de Gatagara, a modern pottery cooperative operating in Mukingo Sector of Nyanza District, has appealed for support to acquire advanced tools to produce standardised ceramic products to maximise sales.

The cooperative consisting of 12 members got accreditation in 2012.

According to the cooperative’s president, Jean Pierre Nshunguyinka, during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, some of the people who had acquired pottery skills were killed. It was until 1997 when some people organised themselves to resume organised pottery practice.

Nshunguyinka said the pottery has benefited the members, citing construction of residential houses, paying for health insurance for their family members and school fees for their children among other benefits.

"We also pay social security contributions in RSSB (Rwanda Social Security Board) for the cooperative members so that they get pension benefits when they retire,” he told The New Times on Tuesday.

He, however, cited lack of enough clientele, difficulties in accessing the market and inadequate capacity to produce quality ceramic pieces among the challenges facing the cooperative.

The cooperative sells some of its products at Ikaze Show Room – an arts and craft selling point in Kigali, but Nshunguyinka said transporting their products is still a challenge.

The cooperative members largely depend on manual labour with rudimentary machinery to make ceramic products.

"We make few products at times with shapes that do not match due to lack of advanced work tools. But with advanced tools we can make more standardised products in a short time and attract more buyers,” he said.

He said most of their clients are tourists, with few Rwandans who buy their products but the challenges have affected their competitiveness.

"A vase is sold at Rwf5,000. A dish goes for Rwf3,000. A cup costs between Rwf1,000 and Rwf2,000, yet a plastic cup is Rwf200. Rwandans tend to buy the latter because it is cheaper,” he noted.

Samuel Bayavuge, one of the cooperative members said pottery has benefited him.

"I built a house and I pay health insurance for my family. I also bought a cow,” he said.” If we get advanced tools and ready market we can develop further,” added the 41-year-old, father of six.

The SMEs and cooperatives development officer in Nyanza District, Juvenal Habumukiza advised the cooperative to advertise their products to attract more buyers.

The Nyanza Mayor, Abdallah Murenzi, said the cooperative has evolved from making rudimentary ceramic products to more quality products.

"Now, they need capacity building in skills, finance and tools so that they produce more standard products to meet market demands.”

Murenzi said Nyanza District in partnership with the National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA), has started a ceramic products promotion project to help the cooperative make refined products.

Mayor Murenzi said a study for the factory placement is underway in Busasamana Sector, Kavumu Cell and the estimated budget for its construction is between Rwf300 and Rwf500 million.

Habumukiza said the ceramic industry, once set up, will help develop ceramic sector and promote the ‘Made in Rwanda’ products.

"The cooperative makes ceramic products like cups similar to those we buy [from abroad]. To promote locally made products there is no reason for people to spend more money on buying the products from abroad, yet similar products are produced here,” he said.

"The factory will help make use of the natural resources. More people will get jobs and it will lead to an increase in revenues in the country.

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