Salt production may fall short of target this year

COX'S BAZAR: The country is unlikely to achieve the target of salt production this season as output in the salt beds is not satisfactory.

Due to failure to meet the production target in last few years, the government may have to import salt in future, experts said.

Production of salt, one of the oldest and most ubiquitous food seasonings, and a key ingredient of food preservation in Cox's Bazar coastal areas is going on in full swing as the season is nearing end.

Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) has fixed the salt production target at 1.8 million tonnes for the current fiscal year against the country's demand for 1.62 million tonnes.

Local BSCIC officials said about 1.4 million tonnes of salt were produced in the country until Thursday last.

When contacted, BSCIC Deputy General Manager Dildar Ahmed Chowdhury said if favourable weather prevails in next two weeks, the target of salt production may be fulfilled. The salt season will end on May 15, he said.

At least 45,000 farmers are cultivating salt in seven upazilas of Cox's Bazar district and Banskhali upazila of Chattogram. A total of 64,000 acres of land were brought under salt cultivation, BSCIC officials said.

The country achieved salt production target in the fiscal year 2013-2014 when 1.75 million tonnes of salt were produced against the target of 1.6 million tonnes. But in next three fiscal years, the country failed to achieve the production target.

In the fiscal year 2014-2015, 1.28 million tonnes of salt were produced against the target of 1.8 million tonnes. In the FY 2015-2016, 1.62 million tonnes of salt were produced against the target of 1.8 million tonnes and in the FY 2016-2017, 1.66 million tonnes of salt were produced against the target of 1.8 million tonnes, BSCIC sources said.

Salt producers and farmers said that a fall in the number of salt beds, unfavourable weather condition, low price and import of salt from foreign countries are the main reasons for failure to achieve the production target.

At present, salt is selling at Tk 220-Tk 250 per maund at the field level. Salt farmers of Chowfaldandi area of Sadar upazila -- Abdul Khaleq, Nurul Amin and Abdur Rahman -- said the salt price should be fixed at least at Tk 400 per maund.

According to sources, there are about 70,000 acres of land in Cox's Bazar district and Banskhali upazila where salt can be cultivated. But the government has acquired about 4,500 acres of salt land to implement its mega projects like coal-based power plant and LNG terminal at Matarbari, Dhalghata and Teknaf.

Showing a shortage of production, millers imported 0.5 million (five lakh) tonnes of salt in the current fiscal year and 0.1 million (one lakh) tonnes in the last fiscal year.