Price is too low, salt farmers in Nghe An are not interested in the new salt crop
(Baonghean.vn) - Although the new salt season has begun, due to low salt prices, salt farmers in Nghe An are not interested in production; many salt fields have been abandoned and become places for livestock grazing.
Step innew salt crop, the output is not much but the price of salt in the field is only 1,400 VND/kg. In one day, if working hard, each person can only make 1 quintal of salt, equivalent to 140,000 VND.
Due to low income, many households have given up salt making and switched to other jobs to make a living.
Mr. Pham Van Thang - Van Nam hamlet,Dien Van commune(Dien Chau) makes 18 acres of salt (about more than 5 sao of land), said: For many years now, the young men have all gone to find other jobs to make a living, only the elderly and women still stay home to make salt.
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| Some households have finished preparing their salt fields early and have started production. Photo: Tien Dong |
In addition to the low price of salt, which does not bring high income, each year salt production can only be done for about 3 hot months, after which it must be left fallow, so the crystallization cells, filter cells, and even the sea sand used to filter water are all damaged, forcing reinvestment when entering the new season, causing production costs to increase.
In Dien Van commune, the salt field area is up to 70 hectares (of 2 cooperatives: Van Nam over 50 hectares and Van Dong about 20 hectares), but this year, both cooperatives plan to produce only about 30 hectares.
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| Some people are leveling the salt fields after more than 8 months of abandonment. Photo: Tien Dong |
Mr. Hoang Ngoc Bien - Chairman of Van Nam Salt Cooperative said: Entering the salt production season but there are still many abandoned areas becausesalt price is too lowIn recent years, a lot of salt has been shipped from the South, selling for only 1,300 - 1,400 VND/kg, including packaging and shipping costs. Therefore, local salt is very difficult to compete.
Currently, the whole districtDien ChauThere are 4 cooperatives (in 3 communes of Dien Kim, Dien Bich, Dien Van) that still produce salt, with a total area of 120 hectares. However, this year's salt crop is expected to have a large decrease in area, the production plan is only about 80 hectares, maybe even less.
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| Many salt fields have now become grazing grounds for livestock. Photo: Tien Dong |
Mr. Le The Hieu - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dien Chau district said: In recent years, although the State has had many policies to support people in improving filtering cells, covering crystallization with tarpaulin... However, due to the low price of salt and difficulty in competing, many people have given up the salt industry.
Currently, some salt fields in Dien Ky and Dien Van have been planned to be converted to other purposes such as aquaculture, but due to large initial investment capital and high risks, many households are still hesitant and do not dare to invest, leading to a large area of abandoned salt fields./.
