Over more than 4 months, 149,500 tonnes of sun-dried salt have been yielded in Ayeyawady Region, exceeding last year’s production, said a salt farmer from Ayeyawady Region.
The region’s salt production was just 142,000 tonnes in the whole previous salt season which concluded at the end of May last year, however, according to statistics from January to 6 May this year, 512 salt farmers have operated salt farming on 21,111.05 acres and so far, the production has reached 149,500 tonnes.
“Even before this year’s salt season ends, the production has exceeded the last year’s. There is still sun so we can still harvest salt. Due to El Nino impact, it may not rain so maybe we will go on. But the capability to harvest may decline after 15 May, because the sea will rise and workers may be unable to harvest due to extreme hot weather. In previous El Nino-affected years, monsoon arrived after 25 May,” he said.
Harvesting is still continuing as the temperature is still high, therefore the salt production is expected to be more than 160,000-170,000 tonnes until 15 May, he said.
Ayeyawady-produced salt is still unable to export to overseas market, just can sell in domestic market. Despite the fact that there are rising transportation charges and other expenditure, the surplus in production can offset these cost, he said.
The salt farming starts in October and harvesting begins in January, the production is the highest in April and May, and if the weather is fine, the salt production in April alone can be larger than 3-month production –January, February and March.
MT/ZS
