Thoothukudi salt takes a hit despite rise in output

The salt industry in Thoothukudi district, which boasts of being the largest in Tamil Nadu, although has witnessed increased production this year, has suffered a significant slump in its market due to competition from neighbouring States and over labour constraints, sources said.

With production getting off to an earlier start this year and Thoothukudi not experiencing summer rains, salt production in the district has seen a rise by around 40 percent until June this year as against last year, sources said. However, salt production in Gujarat, which is the largest in India, rose, too, owing to delayed onset of the Southwest monsoon. This has led to the State and others like Maharashtra capturing the market share of Tamil Nadu this time, MSP Thenraja, president, Thoothukudi Salt Merchants Association, told DT Next on Sunday.

Normally, manufactured salt from Thoothukudi is supplied to other parts of Tamil Nadu and to the neighbouring states of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh and partially in Karnataka. But of late, Gujarat has gained control over the market in Tamil Nadu. Unlike previous year, the market has suffered a slump by 20 to 30 percent now, Thenraja said.

According to ARAS Dhanabalan, secretary, Thoothukudi Small Scale Salt Manufacturers Association, about 40 percent of production had been achieved until June this year, as against last year when it saw the overall production only at around 60 percent owing to rainfall. While the average annual production is 30 lakh tonnes, around 12 lakh tonnes had been produced so far this year, he said. With the three-month peak production season all set to begin in July, it is expected to touch almost 90 percent this year.

S Petchimuthu, a Thoothukudi-based salt manufacturer, said the spike in salt production has hurt the price. The price of the commodity, although touched an unprecedented Rs. 1,300 per tonne in November and December last year, has suffered a drastic fall to have it at Rs. 800 a tonne now, he said. Adding to the misery, the traditional approach of the salt industry in Thoothukudi, which is yet to embark on modernisation, is now facing labour constraints.

Currently, workers employed in salt pans are mostly aged fifty years and above and the younger generation seems to be reluctant to take up this job, which they deem as laborious, Petchimuthu said. A daily wage of Rs. 340 and Rs. 330 are offered to a male and female worker respectively, he said.

Citing these hardships, Petchimuthu said the salt industry is in desperate need of implementing mechanisation to tide over the labour crisis. Touring Gujarat, where he says salt production is mechanised, Petchimuthu added such technology was suitable for those dealing in large scale operations spread over five to ten acres. However, most of the salt manufacturers in Thoothukudi district have been involving only in small scale operations extending over a minimum of around three cents. Hence, technocrats should come up with inventions to mechanise production in smaller salt pans too, he said.