AKIPRESS.COM - A 36-year-old resident of Batken, Amir Jalilov, has been crafting wooden dishes for the past 2 years.

He has set up a mini-workshop near his home.

"By profession, I'm an IT specialist. I didn't specifically learn craftsmanship; I inherited it from my father," said Jalilov.

He noted that in recent years, there has been an increasing demand for traditional dish.

"I make plates, bowls, spoons, as well as stairs, doors, and window frames. There are similar craftsmen in all regions of the country, but most of them don't have apricot wood like in Batken. I use it. Additionally, I use walnut, pine, and mulberry wood. It takes 1 year to prepare the wood. I dry it in a special way. It's a very labor-intensive process, so the prices are high. For example, one bowl (kese) costs from 800 to 1000 soms, plates – from 500 soms, spoons – 200-300 soms, large dish – from 3,500-4,000 soms. Many Kyrgyz people buy metal, glass, or other dish, and our wooden products are expensive for them. But it is environmentally friendly," shared Amir.

He intends to turn his traditional dishware into a kind of brand. Amir Jalilov has a son and three daughters.