1. General Introduction
Ceramics pottery making has been a notable traditional craft in Nepal adopting both as a primary and supplementary occupation of some ethnic group. It has been their family traditional occupation rather than a commercial job. There are also some communities preserving and adopting their traditional arts and crafts as a subsidiary occupation following the age-old heritage.

Though Nepal has a long history of ceramic activities, very little is known about the total number of traditional potters in Nepal or their activity mainly because of their unorganized existence and wide dispersion. These traditional potters have been living in terai, inner terai and mid-mountain regions of the country, where there are good sources of water, clay suitable for pottery making and fuel wood for firing purpose. The Ceramic Promotion Project (CPP) during its plan preparation phase estimated a total number of potters' families in Nepal as about 30,000 families.

Traditional ceramic products have high importance in rural setting basically for livelihood of the people. Water container, earthenware, and other household vats fulfill the needs of a large section of the rural population. Some of the traditional ceramic products have importance on religious ground where as some products are considered hygienic and safe. Modern ceramic products both glazed and unglazed particularly the household vats, flower vase, cookeries, containers, toys, idols, electric and engineering goods etc, are popular in the urban areas.

Market surveys at different times have shown the increasing demand for ceramic products both glazed and unglazed in Nepal. This increasing demand led the import of ceramic products mostly from neighboring countries and some from overseas also.

The Department of Cottage and Small Industries (DCSI), which has been engaging in promotion of Cottage and Small Industries (CSI) in Nepal, has started skill training on ceramics in an effort to promote ceramic industries by preparing skilled manpower in modern ceramics. However its effort produced only limited impact to the promotion of ceramic industries in Nepal. Therefore, His Majesty's Government of Nepal (HMG Nepal) sought external cooperation for the development of this sector and the Federal Republic of Germany showed interest towards this proposal. As a result of bilateral effort the Ceramic Promotion Project came into operation in 1984 under DCSI.

With the initiation of the Ceramic Promotion Project (CPP) Nepal has attained some remarkable achievement in this sector in the forms of improvement of designs, product diversification, invention and improvement of equipment, introduction of fuel saving firing technique, development of raw materials for modern ceramic products and so. Likewise, a large number of manpower capable of running modern ceramic industries has been trained in this sector. Within a decade about 20 modern small-scale ceramic industries have been established in Nepal. These ceramic industries have been contributing in import substation to some extent while some industries are exporting their products even in Europe and America. Ceramic industries in Nepal have higher prospect then some year back and Government has made provision to give various incentives and facilities to further promote this sector in Nepal.


2. Traditional Ceramics At A Glance
The history of traditional ceramics goes back to many centuries. The oldest record so far obtained was of 2600 years old. Various archaeological items made of terracotta like coins, pots, idols etc. discovered in the excavation in Lumbini areas were found to be 2600 years old. Likewise, from the similar terracotta items round in the excavation and the items seen in the existing temples in the Kathmandu valley, it can be predicted that traditional ceramic industry was very prosperous during the Lichhive period (464-604 A.D.). Techniques of ceramic were developed during this period. However, during the Malla period (1200 to 1743 A.D.) traditional ceramic reached its climax in its development and this period was called the Golden Age of Traditional ceramic in Nepal, which continued for several decades.

The traditional ceramic items can be classified into following groups.


1. Ceramic Building Materials - Bricks, Tiles, Doors and Windows made of clay, Sewerage pipe etc.

2. Utensils - Cooking Pots, Stoves, Plates etc.

3. Decorative items - Idols, Flower Vase etc.

4. Coins and Seals - Various coins of different size and shape
The following were the technique used in traditional ceramic.

a. Pinch Touch Technique - Modeling the items by pressing with hands.

b. Slab Technique - By joining the slabs to give desired shape.

c. Beating Technique - Preparing the items by beating with hammer.

d. Wheel Technique - To give shape with the help of wheel.

e. Coil Technique - To give shape by joining the different pieces in a line.

f. Mold Technique - To prepare item with the help of mold.

g. Craving Technique - Giving artistic design to the product.


Traditional pottery making has been one of the primary occupations of some of ethnic groups in Nepal. These traditional craftsmen belong to Kumale, Prajapati, Kumhar, Kuma. Pandit, Kumbhakar etc. Literally meaning of these words are pottery maker, clay craftsmen etc. The settlement of these pottery-making groups is spread all over the rural areas of Nepal. However, they are concentrated in terai and inner terai of Nepal. They are also found in Bhaktapur and Thimi area within the Kathmandu Valley. These potters are considered to be socially backward community but the potters of Bhaktapur and Thimi areas are comparatively advanced in terms of skill and business. Winther season is the favorable time for their business. All members of the family share in their traditional occupation during the time. Male members of the family actually involve in making pottery while female members assist in collection of clay, collection of firewood, rice husk, straw for firing and to sale the products and other necessary supplementary works. Farming casual labour and fishing are the some supplementary occupation done by these potters in other seasons (off seasons).

They sale their products mostly in the local markets. Due to lack of proper transportation system in rural areas, they have to travel door to door to sale the product. The product. The barter system is also popular as an alternative means to sale their product.


3. Initiation of Ceramic Promotion Project (CPP)
Ceramic Promotion Project was initiated in 1984 under the Department of Cottage and Small Industries to coordinate and institutionalize the programs for the promotion of ceramic industries in Nepal.

3.1 The need to initiate the project in this sectors was realized due to the following positive growth potential factors.

(a) Existence of a substantial number of traditional potters and the potential of the growing market for ceramics.

(b) Availability of entrepreneurial expertise and a great deal of traditional skill and experience which only need timely upgrading to produce glaze products.

(c) Possibility of product diversification, export market and training to produce and improve traditional technology.

(d) Availability of basic raw materials especially the red burning variety clay and many other inputs required for the production.

3.2 Objectives and activities of Ceramic Promotion Project
The major objectives of the project are:

(a) To create income generation activities and employment in the ceramic sector.

(b) To save the valuable foreign exchange through import substitution of ceramic products.

To achieve there objectives the activities conducted by the project are:

(a) Creation of ceramic center in Bhaktapur for Training, and Research & Development.

(b) Establishment of tools and machinery for production of glaze ceramic products.

(c) Use of locally available raw material for ceramic production.

(d) Development and dissemination of fuel saving firing technology.

(e) Identification of market opportunity for new products.

(f) Help to establish ceramic industries and creation of income generation opportunities.

(g) Import and supply of glaze and other supplementary raw materials.

3.3 Achievements of the project:

(a) Some machinery/Equipment invented or adapted and produced in Nepal e.g. Traditional wheels, electric wheels, kilns, burners etc.

(b) New products introduced to the market e.g. glaze handmade crockery, glazed handmade decorative items, unglazed floor titles, jigger products, ceramic jewelers etc.

(c) Clay and glaze products developed to support the industry e.g. clay bodies, glaze, engobes, refractories etc.

(d) Skill training on modern ceramic to more than 750 persons both in Kathmandu Valley and rural parts of Nepal.


4.A. Modern Ceramic Industries in Nepal
Small-scale modern ceramic industries have been established in Nepal as a result of CPP. R & Small scale modern ceramic industries have at least one person trained at the project. Some of these industries also export their handmade glaze product to Europe and America in small but increasing quantities. The up-dated profile of the modern industries is presented herewith.

4.B. Traditional Potters Using CPP inputs

Ceramic Promotion Project started outside Kathmandu Programme in 1988. To impart fuel saving firing process, introduce improved potter wheel and work processed to the potters and results obtained are encouraging. Besides, modern ceramic industries established in Kathmandu Valley there are also many traditional potters using CPP inputs. The project estimated such number to be around 400 including estimated multiplication effect.


5. Problems & Prospects.

On the basis of market information on ceramic we are sure about the future prospect of ceramic sector in Nepal. However, modern ceramic is skill in infant stage of development and ceramic sector on the whole is under transition period i.e. abandoning or improving traditional skills & adopting modern once with slow rate.

There is no vocational school or technical college on ceramic in Nepal. All the trainers and technicians of the project have been trained by the project itself. Though ceramic training could product tangible results to some extent but not to such extent as expected. Technical or formal education on ceramic is required for the entrepreneurs & trainees involving in this sector.
Modification in traditional ceramic production to capture foreign market is under going in small scale. Likewise, modern ceramic industries are operating in small scale of economy and suffering from inferior quality products. So the cost efficiency and quality control seem essential in this sector.

R&D on round kiln for traditional pottery has compared to traditional firing the advantage of less breakage and betters firing control. This results in a 50% fuel saving if the saving because of less breakage are considered. This technology can be transferred to other countries of the region.

Likewise, on the basic of Nepalese experience some other equipment adopted or developed like burner, potters wheel, vibrating screen etc. can be built in other countries without problems.