Ha Noi (VNA) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)’s policy on aiding the development of the salt industry has received a warm welcome from salt businesses and farmers. Addressing a conference in Ha Noi on January 15, Deputy Minister Diep Kinh Tan said, “Although the country has a long coastline which is favourable for salt production, the salt industry has failed to meet the domestic demand and salt farmers’ life remains difficult.”
This year, the ministry plans to devise a decree on salt production and business management in line with the nation’s commitment to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). In addition, it will take synchronous measures such as increasing investment in scientific research, technology transfer, infrastructure facilities and environmental protection. Special attention will be paid to improving salt farmers’ living conditions.
The salt industry, which employs almost 70,000 labourers in coastal communes, turned out 926,000 tonnes of salt last year, a year-on-year rise of 20 percent, according to the Department for Agro-Forestry Products Processing and Salt Industry. Salt quality has also improved with the expansion of clean salt production models.
However, the country still had to import almost 138,000 tonnes of industrial salt.
In 2008, the industry aims to raise its industrial salt output to around 420,000 tonnes, or 1.5 fold increase over last year’s figure.-Enditem
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