The salt making profession in Bac Lieu province has been formed and developed for hundreds of years. This is one of the localities with the highest salt production in the country, concentrated mainly in Hoa Binh and Dong Hai districts.
Statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bac Lieu province show that in the 2023 crop year, salt output in the whole province will reach over 27.000 tons, of which white salt covered with canvas is more than 7.300 tons, the rest is traditionally produced salt.
The average yield is nearly 17 tons/ha (for traditional salt production) and over 37 tons/ha (for tarpaulin salt). The total number of salt producing households in 2023 in the province is 767 households, with 1.520 workers.
To make a finished batch of salt, one must go through many stages. Land preparation, measuring salinity, and drawing water into the field are some of the very important steps to have a good harvest.
Although many stages of the salt production process have been mechanized to improve salt quality and output, in some places, salt farmers still cherish traditional manual production techniques.
Scooping water to cover the fields, Mr. Giang Van Ut (living in Dien Hai commune, Dong Hai district) shared that the local salt making profession usually lasts from November of the previous year to March (Lunar calendar) of the following year, when the temperature is low. High.
“This year there is a lot of sunshine, salt farmers like us have had a good harvest but are not very happy because the price has dropped. Currently, the price of white salt has dropped to 900-1.100 VND/kg, down 30% compared to the previous season," Mr. Ut said.
Some other salt farmers also expressed their worry and regret when they put in a lot of effort but in the end they couldn't sell it at a good price. “With an area of more than 1.000 square meters, the family's salt fields yield more than 2 tons. Minus the expenses, the profit is only about 30 million VND for many miserable months in the salt fields," a salt farmer confided.
Although the salt industry in Bac Lieu has existed for hundreds of years, the coastal salt people have not been able to get rich from this "white gold" mine. The reason is because of the small farming area, cheap prices, worries about the consumer market...
At a business meeting in early December 12, Mr. Pham Van Thieu, Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Lieu province, said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had granted the locality 2023 billion VND to invest in infrastructure to develop salt making. . Thereby, contributing to encouraging and accompanying salt farmers to preserve the traditional profession.
According to Mr. Pham Van Thieu, in the planning, the province will retain more than 1.600 hectares for salt production and have a specific development plan to increase the value of salt grains as well as help salt farmers have a better life.
