Mawlamyine, December (25)
The salt industry in Mon state was unable to produce salt until nearly two months after the salt season began due to untimely rains, the salt farmers told Than Lwin Times.
The Mon state’s sun-dried salt business runs from October to mid-May every year, but this year’s salt season was interrupted by unseasonal rains, so salt production was delayed until the end of December.
Salt farmers are operating at a loss due to rising fuel and labor costs, and they are concerned about severe weather conditions.
At the end of December, the cost of coarse salt increased from 210 to 270 kyats per viss, over two months after the start of the salt season.
Despite the fact that the price of salt has risen again, farmers are not profiting because they do not have salt on hand, and they are concerned that the price of salt will fall again during the salt production season.
On the other hand, salt farmers have suffered losses due to untimely rains for two consecutive seasons and are keeping an eye on the weather.
Salt farmers have suffered losses in previous years and have been unable to resume operations since the start of the current salt season, with some businesses being permanently suspended.
As a result, during the current salt season, the salt yield may decline and unemployment rates for salt workers may rise in the area, the salt farmers said.
More than 40,000 tons of sun-dried salt are produced annually in Paung, Thanbyuzayat, and Ye Township in Mon State, with most of it being sent to different regions and states, including Mandalay and Yangon.
News-Than Lwin Times
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