Salt farmers sceptical of fair prices despite record production

NAZIMUDDIN SHYAMOL | Published: April 28, 2023 20:49:58

CHATTOGRAM, Apr 28: Despite record production, salt farmers in Chattogram and Cox's Bazar are concerned about fair prices for their produce.
The favourable weather conditions and successful pick seasons have led to a surge in raw salt production, bringing happiness to the farmers. However, they are now urging authorities to take action to prevent salt imports from neighbouring countries and ensure that they receive a proper payout for their efforts.
Moksud Ahamed, president of Cox's Bazar Salt Farmers Songram Porishad, highlighted the potential consequences of a price-fixing syndicate controlled by mill owners.
He said that such a situation could lead to significant losses for salt farmers who have worked hard to achieve record production. Instead, Moksud suggested that the government and the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) should work together to establish a fair price for salt that considers the farmers' profits.
Another leader of Cox's Bazar Salt Farmers Songram Porishad, Abu Tayeb, expressed concerns about the current pricing of salt, stating that the ground-level price was Tk 500 per maund, and the mill price was Tk 570 per maund, which he believes is unreasonable.
Shahab Mia, a salt farmer, explained the process of supplying raw salt to salt factories, which then refine and mix iodine with the salt for sale in the market.
Mostafa Ali, the general secretary of the Salt Workers Union at Banshkhali, highlighted the issue of farmers and workers not receiving proper compensation despite their contributions to the production of salt.
According to sources, a total of 10,930 metric tonnes of salt was produced on April 25, bringing the total production of salt in the current season to 1,839,000 metric tonnes.
This production marks the highest record of raw salt production in the country's history, with last year's highest record being 1,832,000 metric tonnes. The favourable weather conditions could potentially increase the production to over 2 million metric tonnes of salt.
Sources also reported that the total cultivated land for salt farming this season is 66,424 acres, an increase of 3,133 acres compared to last year's 63,291 acres. Additionally, the number of salt farmers has increased by 2,236 people this year, with a total of 39,467 salt farmers in the current season.
According to the BSCIC, salt is being cultivated in ten upzilas of Cox's Bazar and Chattogram. The salt farmers are using 66,424 acres of land for salt cultivation in Chokoria, Pakua, Kutubdia, Moheshkhali, Eidgaon, Sadar upzila, Ukhia, and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar, and Anwara and Banshkhali coastal belt in Chattogram.
While some farmers own their land, many others lease the land from owners, resulting in a significant amount of land being used for salt cultivation in the coastal areas of Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.
Officials from the Cox's Bazar Salt Industries Development Project reported an increase in salt cultivation land compared to the previous year in greater Chattogram, with the target of salt production being met this year.
The farmers are using the polyethene system for cultivation, resulting in increased quality and quantity of salt, according to them.
nazimuddinshyamol@gmail.com