Tk 425 per Maund Salt Price Spurs 40,000 Farmers to Cultivate 60,000 Acres

The government has given good news to farmers as salt production begins this season in Cox’s Bazar and Banshkhali of Chattogram. It decided to set the lowest price of locally made salt at Tk 425 per maund. Salt farmers see this decision as positive, because it considers the cost of production and the market. They hope it will end the long uncertainty over price and encourage them to produce more salt.

Reports say about 40 thousand salt farmers are going to farm 60 thousand acres of land. But they demand that the government enforce the announced price and strengthen market monitoring in the field. The Ministry of Industries took this decision at a meeting of the “Committee on salt demand assessment, salt policy implementation and monitoring”. The meeting took place at 3 pm earlier this week in the ministry’s meeting room.

Ministry Secretary Mr. Abdun Nasser Khan chaired the meeting. The members discussed raising salt production, assessing demand, setting the quality of crude salt in the field, fixing the price and managing the market. Industries Minister Mr. Khandaker Abdul Muktadir joined the meeting virtually. He said the government set the lowest price at Tk 425 per maund after it considered the cost of production, the current market and the interest of farmers.

He said that if the government enforces the set price well, farmers will get a fair price that matches their cost of production. He said the decision will also help keep the salt price steady in the market and encourage farmers to produce more.

Relief among farmers: Representatives of salt farmers in Cox’s Bazar welcomed the government’s decision. They said the cost of salt farming is rising because of higher production cost, higher land lease rent and higher pay for workers. In this situation, a lowest price is a positive step for farmers. But if the announced price does not work in practice, farmers may miss its benefit.

Advocate Mr. Shahabuddin, president of the Cox’s Bazar Salt Farmers Welfare Association, said: “The decision to set a lowest price with the interest of farmers in mind is positive. But the announced price must not stay only on paper. Farmers will get the real benefit if buyers and sellers use the set price in the field.”

Mr. AJM Gias Uddin Chowdhury, general secretary of the association, said: “The cost of salt production rises every year. In this situation, a fair price is very important for farmers. Along with enforcing the set price, the government needs to strengthen market monitoring and take effective steps to control the unwanted influence of middlemen.”

Mr. Delwar Hossain, member secretary of the Pekua Upazila Salt, Fisheries and Agriculture Welfare Association, said: “Setting the lowest price at Tk 425 per maund matches the long demand of farmers. But the government must also keep in mind the rise in production cost, land lease rent and workers’ pay. To enforce the set price, it must check the market regularly and make sure buyers can purchase salt directly from farmers at a fair price.”

Farmers say that only announcing a lowest price will not bring a real effect on the market. They say the administration needs to make sure buyers purchase salt from farmers at the set price. It also needs to watch the market regularly and control the harassment by middlemen. They also want the authorities to take effective steps to keep the lease rent of salt farming land at a bearable level.

Farmers expect the government to watch closely that its announced price works, so that farmers in Cox’s Bazar and Banshkhali get a fair price for their salt this season. Those involved believe this will ease the pressure of production cost on farmers a little and raise interest in salt production.

Several officials and representatives spoke at the meeting. They included BSCIC Chairman Mr. Benzir Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Administration) Mr. Md. Nuruzzaman, Salt Cell head Mr. Sarwar Alam and Salt Mill Owners Association president Mr. Nurul Kabir.

Representatives of ministries and institutions took part too, such as BSCIC, agriculture, land, food, commerce, fisheries and livestock. Representatives of the Cox’s Bazar Salt Farmers Welfare Association and the Pekua Upazila Salt, Fisheries and Agriculture Welfare Association joined virtually. They shared their proposals and views on salt production, market management and the interest of farmers.