Salt: Cultivation of veins in salt pods

alt="Eenadu icon" class="img-fluid rounded">By Editorial Team Published : 03 Jan 2026 04:14 IST Ee Font size
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Salt is usually associated with cooking. However, industrial use of salt is also increasing. In this order, India is exporting salt to foreign countries in bulk. At the same time, there is a need to take many measures for the protection of those working in the related industry.

India stands at the third place in the world in the production of salt after China and America. In 1947, salt production in the country was 19 lakh tonnes, but by 2022-23 it has increased to 3.91 crore tonnes. Before independence we used to import salt from United Kingdom for domestic needs. Today, India is not only self-sufficient in salt production but also exports the surplus salt to foreign countries. In 2023-24, it exported 1.44 crore tonnes of salt worth around 44 crore dollars. Our share in world salt exports is about ten percent. By 2030, the global salt market is expected to reach $4,860 billion. In this order, India should take advantage of the export opportunities that will come in the coming days.

Increased global demand

Sea water, salt water lakes, underground and rock deposits are the main sources of salt production in India. Salt is grown in about 7.47 lakh acres across the country. There are thousands of producers. Gujarat stands at the top with 87.4 percent share in domestic salt production. Tamil Nadu (4.7 percent) and Rajasthan (6.7 percent) are in the next positions. Salt is produced in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, West Bengal, Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Daman Diu. The country requires an average of 74 lakh tonnes of salt for human consumption and about 125 lakh tonnes for industrial consumption. In view of increased industrial demand, our salt is being exported to China, Japan and Southeast Asian countries. Our salt is going to all hundred countries. Iodized salt, rock salt, Himalayan pink salt are naturally used in cooking. Apart from that, salt is also used in chemical, leather, glass, plastic industries, chlorine, soda ash and caustic soda. Salt also helps to melt ice on roads. In this order, salt is being exported to cold countries. Its use is also high in the aqua industry. There are about 20 thousand salt pans in the 974 km coastal area of ​​Andhra Pradesh. Salt is mainly produced in Naupada, Chinaganjam, Iskapalli, Kakinada, Krishnapatnam and other areas of the state. Harvest season is from January to June. Naupada in Srikakulam district is famous as the 'Salt Bowl of Andhra Pradesh'. 

Special focus on problem solving

Thousands of people are employed in the salt industry across Andhra Pradesh as well as across the country. However, proper roads to the salt pans are not available in many places. As compared to Gujarat, the use of machinery in salt cultivation and exports is less in AP. The laborers toil in the scorching sun. They are supposed to get dark glasses but they are not getting them anywhere. On the other hand, due to prolonged exposure to salt, the workers are at risk of developing skin problems and respiratory diseases. Governments should take special measures for their health care across the country. Adequate training should be provided on safe salt cultivation. Due to the untimely rains in summer, the salt ponds are completely dissolved and the farmers suffer. Similar to crops like rice and chillies, salt growers should also be given compensation. In addition to increasing salt production and exports in accordance with the growing needs in the coming days, governments should pay special attention to solving the problems of the farmers and workers concerned. Then our salt will produce more crops. 

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