Extreme heat waves are causing significant damage to humans and wildlife, yet they have provided a positive outcome for salt farmers in Cox’s Bazar. The relentless sun has become a blessing for salt producers, leading to a bumper harvest across the region.
Thanks to the intense and prolonged heat, salt fields in Cox’s Bazar have seen a surge in output. Alongside this production boom, prices have also climbed, rising from Tk 170 per maund to as much as Tk 260–280. This spike in yield and price has brought much-needed relief and joy to the salt farming community, and many are determined to endure the heat, hoping to make up for past losses.
According to the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), salt cultivation is underway this season (from November 15 to May 15) across 68,505 acres of land. These include areas in Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Kutubdia, Maheshkhali, Pekua, Chakaria, Eidgaon, Teknaf, and Banshkhali upazilas in Chattogram.
Salt production faced a brief setback in mid-April when rain and strong winds halted operations for seven days. However, production resumed shortly after and is now in full swing. At present, around 26,000 metric tons of salt are being produced daily. As of yesterday, total production this season has reached 2.1 million metric tonnes.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
