Competing with the sun for salt as purchase prices rise.

(Baonghean.vn) - Salt farmers in localities throughout Quynh Luu district (Nghe An province) are actively producing salt. With sunny weather, a good harvest, and good prices, the salt farmers are hardworking but enthusiastic about their salt-making profession.

Salt farmers in Quynh Luu (Nghe An province) are delighted as salt prices rise. Photo: Hong Dien.

As the main salt production season of 2017 began, the purchase price increased to 1,600 – 1,700 VND/kg, 30-40 thousand VND/quintal higher than last year, so salt producers rushed back to the fields to work, battling the scorching summer sun.

This particular profession requires more intense sunlight to produce larger, purer white salt crystals, ensuring high yield and quality.

Although the scorching 39-41°C heat is burning everyone's skin, the current price of salt is enough to make everyone happy and forget their fatigue. Ms. Pham Thi Hue from Tan Thinh village, An Hoa commune, shared.

The stronger and more intense the sun, the more beautiful the salt. Photo: Hong Dien

In this main salt production season, many households apply the HDPE tarpaulin technology. The advantage of the tarpaulin's high temperature is that it causes the salt to crystallize quickly, increasing productivity by 10-15% compared to conventional salt production methods. In particular, the resulting salt has large, uniform grains, is clean, and free from impurities such as grit and lime.

The significant increase in salt prices has boosted the morale of salt farmers, encouraging them to work diligently in production. The entire An Hoa commune has 140 hectares of salt fields belonging to three salt production cooperatives: Tan Thinh, Thang Loi, and Tan An. While last year, up to 25% of the salt fields were abandoned and deserted due to sharply falling prices, this year 100% of the area is fully cultivated.

Many salt fields have been covered with tarpaulin by salt farmers, resulting in a more than 10% increase in salt production. (Photo: Hong Dien)

Since the beginning of the year, the entire commune has produced nearly 11,000 tons of salt, reaching 60% of the plan, generating 14 billion VND in income for the local people. Currently, the commune is directing salt-producing cooperatives in the area to purchase newly produced salt as well as existing salt stocks to take advantage of rising prices and increase income for the people.

Besides An Hoa commune, at this time, salt farmers in the communes of Quynh Tho, Quynh Nghia, Quynh Thuan, Quynh Minh… are also working diligently with the hope of supplying more salt to the market and increasing their income after many years of low salt prices.

Nghe An: Salt prices rise at the beginning of the production season.

Red Face