Rajkot / Ahmedabad: Changed monsoon patterns that have produced extended rain can have serious implications on salt production in Gujarat, the largest producer of this classic commodity.
Over the past three years, Monsoon has continued to Navratri, leaving a spacious salt pan in Kutch and parts of Saurashtra in water, making it impossible to harvest salt and register the decline in production.
And, if this trend continues, there may be serious problems about the availability of salt, according to the Indian Salt producer association (ISMA), the APEX body of the salt maker, which has expected production to drop 30% over the next three years.
Gujarat produced tons of salt 2.86 crore on average, but last year reduced almost one crore due to an extended rainy season.
“This time, the salt production season is expected to begin at the end of December.
Part of Saurashtra and a little Rann Kutch where the salt production unit was present received eight-inch rainfall estimates for the past two to three weeks.
Because of the cyclone conditions on the East Coast, Rainfall It is expected to continue.
It will take at least two months or even more for the soil to dry adequately to regulate the salt pan, “said Bharat Raval, President, Isma.
“This year, because Tauktae Typhoon, the salt production season is limited to the end of May itself.
Further delays in the Onset of the New Production Season will have an impact on production.
We hope that estimated 1.7 crore tons of salt production will take place this year, assuming that the activity begins In December, “Raval added.
Over the past two years, actual salt production in Gujarat is not in line with targeted production.
Salt producers suggest that in 2019-20, extended rainfall and rainfall not the season while Diwali hampered the process of salt production.
In 2020-21, locking was charged to contain Covid-19 end production activities, the industrial players said.
“In 2020, India did not feel the shortcomings because this industry was not fully functional because of the lock that had an impact on exports too.
However, this year, this season has been postponed by three months due to surpassing the monsoon and we are worried that in 2022 or 2023, there will be a problem Availability of salt, “Raval said.
According to the source of the salt industry, from 2.86 crore tons of production, 80 lakh tons used in food while 1.20 crore Tonne consumed for industrial purposes.
India exported around one salt ton crore.
“We have to export 50-60 lakh tons to our traditional partner countries that really depend on us for salt, so it’s not a question about salt even more expensive but the problem of literacy,” according to Isma officials.
The salt-making season ends in Ashadhi Beej, traditionally the day when the rainy season is on the Gujarati calendar.
Ashadhi Beej generally falls in July and traditionally from Navratri when the rain recedes, the next salt production starts in October.
The season has been shortened two to three months in the last three years.
Shamji Kangad, ISMA vice president said, “Last year, exports to China fell around 30 lakh tons and next year the trend was estimated to be the same as the level of delivery and high container.
This will help bridge the demand supply gap in the domestic market.” Bachu Aahir, President of the Gujarat scale salt producer association, added, “We could not delay the end of the season because one round of rain came during June-July and after a long break.”