Salt farmers fall prey to syndication
Our Correspondent | Friday, 13 March 2009
CHITTAGONG, Mar 12: Thousands of salt farmers of south Chittagong and Cox's Bazar cannot sell their produce at legitimate price due to lack of buyers. It has created grave concern among the farmers as hundreds of tonnes of salt have been lying uncared for under the open sky causing huge financial loss.
Affected farmers allege, a section of dishonest salt traders and salt-mill owners through forming syndicate have reduced the price of salt at the field level. They are compelling the farmers to sell the produce at low price to earn huge profit by selling it at a higher price.
Sources said price of salt at the field level now ranges between Tk 50 and 90 per maund while it was sold at Tk 100 to Tk 140 per maund last year.
The influential syndicate members are also reportedly obstructing the salt traders of other regions of the country to enter the local market leading to gradual downfall in the price of salt.
Sources further said, due to lack of government patronage and non- formation of Salt Board and not bringing salt cultivation under the agriculture sector, the sufferings of the salt farmers was mounting.
Obtaining proper support of government, discontinuing import of salt and resisting trafficking of salt from neighbouring Myanmar may alleviate the sufferings of the salt farmers, concerned sources claimed.
Affected farmers allege, a section of dishonest salt traders and salt-mill owners through forming syndicate have reduced the price of salt at the field level. They are compelling the farmers to sell the produce at low price to earn huge profit by selling it at a higher price.
Sources said price of salt at the field level now ranges between Tk 50 and 90 per maund while it was sold at Tk 100 to Tk 140 per maund last year.
The influential syndicate members are also reportedly obstructing the salt traders of other regions of the country to enter the local market leading to gradual downfall in the price of salt.
Sources further said, due to lack of government patronage and non- formation of Salt Board and not bringing salt cultivation under the agriculture sector, the sufferings of the salt farmers was mounting.
Obtaining proper support of government, discontinuing import of salt and resisting trafficking of salt from neighbouring Myanmar may alleviate the sufferings of the salt farmers, concerned sources claimed.