Salt farmers in Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State, have stopped their sun-drying salt production due to unseasonal rains, according to salt farmers.

The rains that started in the second week of April have damaged the salt fields and caused the salt melt to fail due to the lack of sunlight, a salt farmer from Panga Village said.

He continued, “In normal weather, salt production can make until May. This year, the rains continued into April, so the salt production could not continue. So, the production had to be stopped.”

The farmer said that the salt production has decreased due to the weather conditions this season, but the price of salt is still high, so there has been no loss.

Although April is the peak season for salt production every year, salt production has decreased due to the rains that started in the second week of April, according to the salt farmers.

In addition, salt farmers have faced difficulties such as labour shortages and fuel shortages during this year’s salt production season, according to their statements.

Salt farmers said that salt production in Mon State usually starts in mid-September after the rainy season ends, and they usually start producing coarse salt in December and January.

There are about 2,900 acres of salt fields in Panga Village, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State, and if the weather is good, about 30 million visses of salt are usually produced. In addition to Panga Village, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State, salt factories are also operating in Kyaikkame, Satse and Wekalaung Village. In addition, there are salt production in Ye Township and Paung Township.