Gumelem Kulon Batik Craftsmen Hope to Gus Yasin

Gumelem Wetan and Kulon villages, Susukan sub-district, have long been centers of written batik in Banjarnegara Regency. There are dozens of batik craftsmen there. Although its existence has been around for decades, the name Batik Gumelem is not as famous as Pekalongan batik and Solo batik.

Deputy Governor of Central Java, Taj Yasin Maimoen, once visited two batik artisans in Gumelem Kulon Village. The two workshops visited were those of Sartinem and Ngisriah.

The Gumelem Village Batik craftsman asked Gus Yasin, when he arrived at the production site and his simple house, Ngisriah said, most of the craftsmen still use traditional marketing methods, namely from conversations between consumers or taken by traders. So, the turnover of goods is not high. The agency that handles SMEs in Banjarnegara, is considered less responsive to the difficulties of craftsmen.

The mother of four children hopes that Gumelem's batik can become famous like Pekalongan batik and Solo batik. Because, in terms of the quality of the material and the uniqueness of the motif is also not inferior.

"The typical color of batik gumelem is classic. But consumers just choose, want a classic or modern. The characteristic color is dominated by brown, black and yellow. The motive is different from other regions. Such as Cebong Gather, Blabagan and Saronging Grain," he explained.

The craftsman who has been working on hand-drawn batik for decades also conveyed the problem of the difficulty of getting capital. He does not have goods that can be pledged to the bank for financing.

Gus Yasin admitted that he was saddened by the condition of the batik craftsmen in Gumelem Kulon. This is because batik artisans in other areas in Central Java have advanced on average.

“Here, the condition of batik craftsmen is still below average. Even those who produce it, the condition is still like that (very simple). So I hope that from the existing potential, we can market it together," he asked.

The One SKPD One Assisted Village Program, he added, also includes empowering and promoting the potential of the villages that are being fostered.

"This is the benefit of us making the One SKPD program, One Assisted Village. So that we can see, we take pictures, we find out what the village we are fostering has. How do we help market the existing potential/products, so that all can be lifted, “he concluded.

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