High salt prices Not a pinch of salt for dried fish producers

• The cost of a 50kg bag of salt has risen from Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 7,000–8,000

By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe   

The excessive price of salt that resulted in declining  production has been a severe blow to the dried fish industry in the  country, much to the consternation of producers.   

More than 1,000 businessmen depending on the dried fish  industry have been in a predicament due to the spiralling production cost  consequent to the spiralling price of salt.

They pointed out that the price of a 50-kilo bag of salt has shot up from Rs. 1,200 to prices between Rs.7,000 and 8,000.    

Kalpitiya in the Puttalam District is the main dry fish  producing area in the country. Kalpitiya archipelago including  Battalangunduwa, Uchchimune, and Mohontutuwarama islands and Puttalam,  Mundalama, Udappuwa, Chilaw and Wennappuwa areas are famous for the  industry. The small and the large scale producers said, that although imported dry fish is available in the market, it is no match for the  local varieties in terms of quality. 

 
They said salt is the main raw material required for the dry fish  industry and that it was not possible to produce dry fish without salt.  They pointed out that this was an issue affecting dry fish producers  all over the country.   
“Incessant rain experienced in the last year had crippled  the salt industry in the country compelling the government to import  salt from India. All salterns in Puttalam and Hambantota Districts had  been submerged by floods. At present a limited quantity of salt is  imported from India for consumption and other purposes. However, this  has not brought any relief to the dry fish industry, The government has  not provided any particular facility to the salt industry to meet its  requirement of salt for a reasonable price.”   

A businessman of Thoduwawa W.Suranga said the local dry  fish industry is on the verge of collapse for want of salt, which is the  main raw material.   

“The price of a 50-kilo bag of salt is between Rs. 7,000  and Rs.8,000 added to it is the escalating prices of fish and the cost  of labour. Now it is the harvesting season of sprats and other varieties  of small fish including Keeramin that are in demand. Shoals of small  fish are harvested by dragnet fishermen. We make dry fish almost in  unlimited quantities with small fish during the harvesting season.  However, we are facing hardship for want of salt. The government is not  to blame since it was a main issue created by nature, but it is  imperative that the government provide a fair share of the imported  salt for a subsidized price for the dry fish industry or else the dry  fish industry would collapse depriving the livelihood of thousands of  families,” he said.    A large-scale dry fish trader in Mukkuthoduwawa L.C.A  Perera said dry fish is the ordinary man’s source of protein and savoury for many people and that the local dry fish industry should be  protected.   

“We produce and supply the best dry fish to the consumers.  The local varieties have no match. Dry fish is a savoury that supplements  the meal and it is of high nutritional value. 

If the production cost  could be reduced it is of the benefit of the consumer. Today the  unbearable price of salt would unavoidably increase the production cost  and the consumer would be its victim. We request the government to  resolve this crisis.”   

Meanwhile, Puttalam District Parliamentarian Ajith Gihan  said the government has already intervened to resolve this issue and  called for information on the requirement of salt for the dried fish  industry.

   
“We are looking into the sudden price hike of salt in a  large proportion as claimed by the dry fish industrialists. The  government will not allow it to go on unchecked and push the dry fish  producers to a hard corner. The parliamentarian further said.