The Chance of Becoming Self-Sustaining of Women Using the Traditional Handicraft in Rural Area of Uzbekistan

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<p>This study investigates the potentials and limitations of the chance of becoming self-sustaining of women using the traditional handicraft of in the collaboration with our university, National Museum in Khiva, and non-governmental organizations in Uzbekistan. A wide gap exists in the standard of living between rural area and the cities in Uzbekistan. Therefore, eradicating poverty in rural area is one of the top priorities of the government.</p><p>Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology has been collaborating with Business Women Association of Uzbekistan (BWA) on two projects, under the partner-type grass-root technical cooperation scheme of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The initial project was titled “Revitalization of the Silk-Road Silk Industry in Uzbekistan - Developing a Rural Income Generation Model by the Improved Sericulture in Fergana Valley” (September 2009-August 2012), and the second one is “Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of the Silk-Road Industry in Uzbekistan - Developing a Technical Transfer Model to Increase Sideline Income of Remote Villages” (April 2013-September 2015).</p><p>The beautiful “Atlas” or the “king of silk” ikat weaving technique has been inherited through generations among local women in Uzbekistan. These vibrant textiles are created using a resist-dyeing process with tie-dye on the warp, weft or both threads prior to being woven (Zerrnickel, 1997). In these projects, we decided to co-develop with BWA products using traditional silk “Atlas” and Adlas in order to increase the income of rural women. Many Uzbeks believe in Islam and many rural women stay at home. Women hesitated to work outside as required by Islamic culture in many cases. Under these circumstances, our aim was to assist women to become self-reliant by making extra income from work that can be done at home. The authors tried to expand the traditional silk “Atlas” in these projects by collaborating with the BWA on product development.</p>

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