Salt production in Orissa to double in two years

"We have decided to increase salt production in the state from 30,000 tonnes per annum to at least 75,000 tonnes in the next two years and further to two lakh tonnes by 2020," India's Salt Commissioner S Sundaresan said.

The proposed increase in production can come through bringing unutilised areas in existing salt farms, and also by bringing new areas under its farming, he said. The adoption of new technology could also help the purpose, he added.

There has been a growing demand of the commodity from both the domestic and industrial sectors. Current demand in the state is estimated at around 350,000 tonnes.

Due to unfavourable topography, few hard summer days and age-old methods of production, the average salt production in Orissa is only 10 tonnes per acre as against 70 tonnes in states such as Gujarat and Rajasthan.

About 1,500 acres suitable for salt farming in different parts of the state remain unutilised, while more areas can be used to boost production, he said.

About 4,000 acres in Ganjam, Puri and Balasore districts have been identified as suitable for salt farming in the state, but only 50 per cent of the area is utilised. The rest is not being used due to various reasons including siltation, said the state's Salt Superintendent S Mohapatra. Ganjam is the major salt-producing district in the state.

The salt department of the Centre, in collaboration with the Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhabanagar, is conducting surveys to identify potential areas for salt production, said Sundaresan.

"We have recently identified around 125 acres in Jagatasingpur district, where people make salt in an unorganised way," Mohapatra said.

Last year, the salt production in the state was 31,615 tonnes, up from 20,693 tonnes in 2006. The production in the state happens in both cooperative and private sectors.

On an experimental basis, a model salt farm has been set up near Ganjam. A trial production from this 10-acre farm started this year. So far, the yield from the farm is almost double that of the yield from the traditional method, claimed TV Krishnayya, president of Humma-Bichanapallli Salt Cooperative Society.

This year, the society targets to add 90 acres to salt farming.