For the past three years, the monsoon has continued till Navratri, leaving salt in the water in parts of Kutch and Saurashtra, thus making it impossible to harvest salt and record a decline in its production. And, if this trend continues, there could be serious issues regarding the availability of salt, according to the Association of Indian Salt Producers (ISMA), the apex body of salt manufacturers, which saw a 30% drop in production over the next three years. have guessed.
Gujarat produces an average of 286 million tonnes of salt, but last year it decreased by about 10 million due to the increase in monsoon.
“This time, the salt production season is expected to start by the end of December. Parts of Saurashtra and Little Rann of Kutch where salt production units are located have received an estimated eight inches of rain in the last two to three weeks. Due to cyclonic conditions over East Coast, rain is likely to continue. ISMA president Bharat Rawal said it would take at least two months or more for the land to dry enough to set up the salt pots.
“This year, due to cyclone Tauke, the salt production season was called off till the end of May. Further delay in the start of the new production season will affect production. We expect an estimated 17 million tonnes of salt production this year, assuming that the activity starts in December,” Rawal said.
In the last two years, the actual salt production in Gujarat has not been in line with the targeted production. Salt manufacturers suggest that extended rainfall and unseasonal rains during Diwali in 2019-20 hampered the salt production process. Industry players said that in 2020-21, the lockdown imposed to contain the Covid-19 further impacted the production activity.
“In 2020, India did not realize Shortage Because the industry was not fully functioning due to the lockdown, which also affected exports. This year, however, the season has been delayed by three months due to the extended monsoon and we fear there will be an issue of salt availability in 2022 or 2023,” Rawal said.
According to salt industry sources, out of 286 million tonnes produced, 8 million tonnes are used for food while 12 million tonnes are consumed for industrial purposes.
India exports about 10 million tonnes of salt. According to ISMA officials, “We have to export 50-60 lakh tonnes to our traditional partner countries, who are completely dependent on us for salt, so it is not a problem of salt being expensive but of non-availability.”
The salt-making season ends at Ashadhi Beej, traditionally the day when the monsoon sets in according to the Gujarati calendar. Ashadhi seed usually falls in July and traditionally from Navratri when the rains subside, the next salt production begins in October. In the last three years, the season has been shortened by two to three months.
Shamji Kangar, Vice President, ISMA said, “Exports to China were lower by around 3 million tonnes last year and the trend is expected to remain the same next year due to higher freight and container rates. This will help bridge the demand-supply gap in the domestic market. will gain help in.
Bacchu Ahir, president of Gujarat Small-Scale Salt Manufacturers’ Association, said, “We cannot delay the end of the season as one spell of rain comes during June-July and after that a long break shortens the season.”
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