Farmers hope for fair shake with paper plant
A recently approved plan to build a processing factory in Xayaburi for mulberry bark used in many crafts could cut out middlemen and give local growers the fair payday they have long been denied
- Published: 14 Oct 2012 at 00.00
- Newspaper section: Spectrum
Sa paper items are ubiquitous in northern handicraft shops, where the rough parchment is used in everything from the region's distinctive paper umbrellas to paintings, calligraphy and other hand-crafted decorative items.
PRETTY PAPER: Locals at Ban Chang Kong do all the processing of the posa bark using simple tools and decorate the finished sa paper with colourful patterns for sale to tourists in Luang Prabang.
Despite the popularity in Thailand of these items, nearly 80% of the country's supply of the inner bark of paper mulberry trees, from which sa paper is derived, comes from Laos. Xayaburi, Luang Prabang and Udomchai provinces are the top suppliers.
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