Every incident has good and bad effects wise man says and this year’s salt production is breaking the highest record in production in where ongoing heat wave and drought helped to maximize it. A new record has been created in salt production this year. In the last 63 years, the most salt has been produced, which is 22 lakh 34 thousand metric tons till April 28. In the next few days, if there is an ongoing heat wave or drought, or if there is no heavy rain, the production will increase. The concerned people think that this will fulfill the demand of salt in the country.
22 lakh 32 thousand 890 metric tons of salt was produced last year. Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BCIC), an organization under the Ministry of Industry, supports salt production in the country from land management, training of farmers, and financial support to sales.
According to the institute, the fiscal year 2022-23 had the highest record of salt production in 62 years. In the current fiscal year 2023-24, the salt season has crossed all records of 63 years.
At the same time, salt production continues. In the current season, salt has been cultivated on 68 thousand 357 acres of land. Last year was 66 thousand 424 acres. This land has increased to one thousand 933 acres.
On the other hand, the number of farmers has also increased. Last year there were 39 thousand 467 people, this year the number of farmers increased by 1 thousand 228 to 40 thousand 695. And the price of salt has also decreased. Currently, the average price of 40 kg (Maund) of crude salt at the field level is Tk 312, which was Tk 420 last year.Tk 92 decreased per maund.
Sarwar Hossain, BCIC salt cell Chief said about increasing salt production, "There are 12 salt centers under BCIC's salt industry development program office in Cox's Bazar. Through this, training was given to salt farmers in all the upazilas of the district and in Bashkhali of Chittagong. Training on how to properly cultivate and store salt is implied. At the same time education about new technology is imparted. On the other hand, we also give loans to farmers, so that they are encouraged to produce salt, and we do not have to import salt by spending dollars. Last year our demand for salt was 23 lakh 38 thousand metric tons, we had to import about one lakh metric tons of salt. This year, I hope we will not have to import.
Mohammad Shafiq Mia, the President of Teknaf Upazila Salt Cultivation Welfare Association of Cox's Bazar said that "Our salt cultivation season starts at the beginning of November. But this year there was a lot of rain at that time. As a result, the season starts very late. The whole season starts from the beginning of January. But due to more drought this time a lot of salt is being produced, which can continue for another 10 to 15 days. That is, the season ends between the 15th and 20th of May; If there is no heavy rain or cyclone.
According to BSCIC, planned salt production started in the country since 1961. In order to develop the salt industry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman visited the salt field in Chaufaldandi area of Cox's Bazar district on February 11, 1975 and discussed with salt farmers. In order to preserve the memory of Bangabandhu and achieve self-sufficiency in salt production in the country, an initiative has been taken to establish the 'Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Salt Research Institute' in Cox's Bazar. If research institutes are established, it will be possible to develop modern and eco-friendly methods of salt cultivation. Apart from this, research activities can be conducted with the aim of expanding salt cultivation and increasing salt production in other coastal districts. At the same time more quality salt will be produced. As a result, besides meeting the needs of the country, it will also be possible to export abroad and earn goodwill and some dollar which will help to national economy and will help to establish salt farming as an industry.
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