Written by Lakshmi B | May 12, 2020 2:34:00 PM
ISMA president Bharat Rawal in an interview stated the production of the salt has come down due to lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.Bharat Rawal, president, of the Indian Salt Manufacturers Association (ISMA), told Aajtak that India consumes about 95 lakh tonnes of edible salt every year. Apart from this, 110-130 lakh salt is used in the industry. Whereas 58-60 lakh tons of salt is exported to other countries. But, due to the lockdown, a month of production was lost, and if they are unable to increase it in next few days then there could be difficulties as in the off-season (monsoon) buffer stock is not so much. He said that this year if the rains catch up late only then the production can come to the right level.
The Economic Times reported that sources from ISMA said that Gujarat, produces about 75 to 80 per cent of the salt in India. But, due to the lockdown, the production has been marginally hit as 70 per cent of the salt production comes from unorganised sectors who supply salt to major factories across the country, with the restrictions applied on transportation, and due to some of the factories located in COVID hotspots they are unable to supply and this has also resulted in the downfall of the production.
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