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The government has stepped up support for salt farmers in Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram through measures aimed at ensuring fair prices, expanding low-interest credit and improving the quality of locally produced salt, Industries Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir told Parliament on Wednesday.
Replying to a written question during the House sitting with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair, the minister said 40,150 farmers—32,410 in Cox’s Bazar and 7,740 in Chattogram—cultivated salt on 67,757 acres of land during the 2025-26 fiscal year, producing 1.945 million tonnes of salt.
Muktadir said the government is determining a minimum farm-gate price for salt based on production costs to ensure growers receive fair returns.
To protect domestic producers, he said, the Ministry of Industries is regulating salt imports by fixing import ceilings for industrial use. Laboratory tests are also being conducted before customs clearance to prevent sodium chloride from being imported under the guise of sodium sulfate or disodium sulfate.
The government is also reviewing import duty rates on salt and providing regular training to farmers to improve the quality of local production.
“As a result of these measures, farmers are now receiving better prices than they did a year ago,” the minister said.