Labour shortages, poor market lead to few salt makers in delta region

A salt maker works in a field in Ayeyawady Region.

Yangon April 2

The number of salt farmers in the delta region are decreasing due to labour shortages and poor market, said local residents from Naukmee Village and nearby areas in Pyapon Township, Ayeyawady Region.

More than half of over 40,000 acres of salt land in Myanmar are in the Ayeyawady delta, where however about 15,000 acres are supposed to be making salt.

The declining domestic market has also resulted from the fl ow of Thai salt into the country at cheaper prices.

Local salt farmers say another reason for the poor market is that a fewer numbers of people resumed salt business after the cyclone Nargis hit the country in 2008 and that more have been migrated to urban areas.

Thailand exports 30,000 to 50,000 tons of salt to Myanmar. Most of salt-making businesses running with salt mills in the country are located in Ayeyawady Region. There are also about 40 others in Mon and Rakhine States.

The Myawady Daily