The country has produced an abundance of salt as a result of the intense heat. The unbearable heat brought a smile to the faces of the salt workers. Last year, salt workers were getting a daily salary of Tk 750 to Tk 800. Now they are getting Tk1 thousand to Tk1 thousand 100. Although the salary is slightly higher, the workers are making up for it by working extra. Farmers are also happy with it.
The owners and workers together have managed to break the record of 63 years of salt production this year. However, the increase in production has also reduced the price of salt, which has had a positive impact on the market. Farmers are storing salt in pits in the ground with polythene in the hope of selling it later at a higher price.
According to BCIC, commercial salt production started in Bangladesh in 1960. Salt is being cultivated on 68 thousand 357 acres of land in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar Sadar, Pekua, Maheshkhali, Eidgaon, Chakria, Kutubdia, and Chittagong's Banshkhali in the current season (five months from November 15 to May 15), which is 2 thousand acres more than last year.
Tanveer Mahmood, a salt farmer in the Baraghop area of Kutubdia, told the Khaborer Kagoj that he cultivated salt on 120 acres of land. He has already sold 60,000 maunds of salt, with which he received Investment money. He hopes to make a profit by selling what will be produced in the future. When asked about the reason for not making a profit despite the high production, he said that last year the cost of labor and incidentals for salt production per acre was Tk 150,000. This year, it has increased to Tk 2 lakh. The cost of production has increased by about 33 percent. There is a labor shortage due to high production. So the workers are benefiting a lot. Last year, the salary of workers was Tk 750 to Tk 800 per day. This year, it has increased from Tk 1 thousand to Tk 1 thousand 100. At the same time, the prices of car rental, loading and unloading costs, and polythene and other ancillary materials have also increased.
He further said that at the beginning of the season, they sold salt at Tk 500 per maund. That is why they were profitable despite rising labor costs. But as production increased, the price of salt fell. The prices fell below the cost of production at the end. So he and other farmers are now storing salt in pits instead of selling it. The salt kept in pits in May will be picked up and sold around October. However, 25 percent is lost in salt storage with this method.
He blamed last year's salt imports as the reason for the drop in salt prices. Last year, as the production was less than the demand, the government approved the import of 1 lakh tons of salt. That salt comes in this year's production season. He blamed last year's salt imports as the reason for the drop in salt prices. As the production was less than the demand last year, the government approved the import of 1 lakh tons of salt. That salt arrives in this year's production season.
BISIC salt development project field inspector Md. Idris Ali told the Khaborer Kagoj that the demand for salt in the country is 25 lakh, 28 thousand metric tons in the current season. The production season starts in November. All preparations have to be made by October. But due to two cyclones in mid- and late-October and one in the first week of November, farmers could not go into production on time. Production begins in mid-November. 23 lakh metric tons of salt have been produced till April 30. During normal times, 30 to 32 thousand tons of salt are produced daily. This year, the average production is 38 thousand tons per day due to an increase in heat level. Hopefully, if the weather is like this, it will be possible to meet the demand target.
Idris Ali also said that in 2023, salt production was 22 lakh, 32 thousand, 890 metric tons, which was the highest record for that period. That record has been surpassed this year.
Regarding the price, he further said that at the beginning of November, each maund of salt was sold at Tk 500. As production increases, salt is currently being sold at Tk 300 per maund in the field. At present, the cost of production is more than Tk 300 per million due to an increase in labor and other costs. So the farmers are now storing the salt in earthen pits instead of selling it. At present, about 75 percent of the salt produced is stored in the ground.
Farmers of Baraghop, North Dhurung, Dakshin Dhurung, Lemshikhali, Koyarbil, Ali Akbar Dale of Kutubdia, Sabrang, Shahpari Dwip, Hnila Union, Rangikhali, Kharankhali, Sikdarpara of Teknaf, Khorushkul, Choufaldandi, and Banshkhali of Cox's Bazar have piled their produced salt on the fields. Some are storing it in the yard of the house by spreading polythene on it. Many people are hoarding by laying polythene in the field. 600 to 800 maunds of salt are stored in each pit.
Asad Asif, proprietor of M/s Lal Mia Salt Industries in Chaktai, told the Khaborer Kagoj that prices have been curbed as imported salt enters the market. Before the import of 1 lakh metric tons, the price of salt per sack (74 kg) was Tk 1,400. Each bag was sold for Tk 1,000 to 1,000 last month as well. Currently, refined salt is being sold at Tk 900 per bag of 74 kg, while non-refined salt is being sold at Tk 820 per bag of 88 kg. Accordingly, the price per bag has decreased by Tk 300 to Tk 400.
He added that the demand for salt has decreased due to the decrease in foreign orders in the garment industry. Two-thirds of the amount of salt used in the country goes to the garment industry. The remaining part is used for leather processing and human consumption.
