Present Status and Future Scope of Improving Crude Salt Production in Bangladesh

Mohammad Gulzarul Aziz; Mohammad Rabiul Islam; Sarif Istiak Akash; M Burhan Uddin

Present Status and Future Scope of Improving Crude Salt Production in Bangladesh

Mohammad Gulzarul Aziz
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh
aziz_ftri@bau.edu.bd

Mohammad Rabiul Islam
Bangladesh Marine Academy, Barishal
robin120675@gmail.com

Sarif Istiak Akash
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh
sarif.istiak.akash@gmail.com

M Burhan Uddin
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh
burhan.ftri@bau.edu.bd.

Keywords: Crude, Salt, Cultivation, Mohajon, Khash, Land, Canal, Salinity, High, Tide, Ebb, Brine, Pit, sediment,

Abstract

Salt production industry plays an important role in the national economy as it supplies one of the most essential ingredients (salt) for our daily diet. Based on a claim of poor quality of our crude salt, salt industries import a significant amount of crude salt from abroad. This issue distracts farmers from getting fair prices and creates a threat in existing of our crude salt industry. This study aims to assess the present status of the crude salt production systems, particularly the critical factors responsible for inferior crude salt quality with possible ways of their improvement and the feasibility of salt cultivation using seawater and sub-surface water in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. A one-time point cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the household survey utilizing both quantitative and qualitative approaches using semi-structured questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion and Key Informant Interviews (KII). A random sampling of crude salt and brines from different location were used for the quality assessment study. Crude salt cultivation practices observed among farmers are unscientific and far away from the principles of gradual natural evaporation and fractional separation of the soluble compounds in the sea brine.

References

1. MA Al Mamun, M Raquib, TC Tania and SM Rahman, “Salt industry of Bangladesh: A study in the Cox’s Bazar”, Banglavision, vol 14, no. 1, 2014, p.7-17.

2. D. M Myers and C. W. Bonython,“The theory of recovering salt from sea‐water by solar evaporation”, Journal of Applied Chemistry, vol 8, no. 4, 1958, p. 207-219.

3. A. Hossain, “Salt Farmer’s Census, PRISM Programme – Technical Assistance to BSCIC Component”, A project funded by the European Union, 2018.

4. M. S. Hossain, M. Z. Hossain and S. R. Chowdhury, “An Analysis of Economic and Environmental Issues Associated with Sea Salt Production in Bangladesh and Thailand Coast”, International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, vol 32, 2006, p. 159-172.

5. Md Shahadat Hossain et al, "Land Use Zoning for Salt Production in Cox’s Bazar Coast of Bangladesh: A Remote Sensing and GIS Analysis", Asian J. Geoinform, vol 3, 2003, p. 69-77.

6. Venkatesh Mannar, “Guidelines for the establishment of solar salt facilities from sea water, underground brines and salted lakes” UNIDO, UNO, 1982.

7. D. M Myers and C. W. Bonython, "The theory of recovering salt from sea‐water by solar evaporation", Journal of Applied Chemistry vol 8, no. 4, 1958, p. 207-219.

8. Mohammad Anas Ansari,“A report on Bangladesh Salt Industry: Current practice of production, preservation & further improvements”, A project funded by UNICEF, 2018.