Cambodia’s salt yield to fall

KHMER TIMES
SOK CHAN

Salt produced in Kampot and Kep provinces are mostly for local consumption. KT/Mai Vireak

Salt production in Kampot and Kep provinces will be down this year due to unseasonal rain during the harvest season and a lack of laborers to farm the salt, according to the Salt Association of Kampot and Kep.

Bun Baraing, co-executive director of the salt association, told Khmer Times yesterday that salt production usually begins by the end of December but rain has prevented farmers from producing it until now.

He said that farmers could not pump seawater into the fields to make the salt.

Mr. Baraing said that last year’s salt yield was 140,000 tons from farms covering more than 4,500 hectares in the two coastal provinces.

He pointed out that this year’s salt yield would be reduced because of the increased rainfall and lack of laborers.

“We want salt production to be comparable with last year as much as possible, but we’re afraid we won’t make it since it depends on the weather,” he said.

“Now we have 200 groups of salt producers with more than 4,500 people in the coastal provinces employed at salt farms.”

He added that there were fewer laborers this year as many had switched to work at factories that had opened near the salt fields.

Kampot salt farmer Noun Phalla told Khmer Times that he collected more than 1,000 tons of salt from 30 hectares of his farmland last year, but he does not expect the same yield this year since it has been raining daily.

“We can’t produce salt now since it is raining every day and we can’t predict a figure since we depend entirely on the weather,” Mr. Phalla said.

“The demand for local salt is stable,” he added. “Normally, farmers begin producing salt in December, but this year it’s January. We still can’t make it.”

Last week, the Ministry of Commerce said it planned to push Kep salt to obtain geographical indication (GI) status thanks to the natural quality of salt in the province.

Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak said the ministry was reviewing the possibility of GI status for salt farmed in Kep because the province is a limitless source of natural salt and seafood.

“If the plan for GI status for Kep salt is successful, the province will be more attractive to investors and tourists and will help create more job opportunities and income for the people,” he said.

“Salt is a partner of pepper. Our vision is to help Kep province with its GI products. We are studying Kep salt because many countries are interested in this product.”

Mr. Baraing said that getting GI status would be good for salt exports, but for now, salt from the two provinces was just supplying the local market.

According to a study conducted by the salt association, the kingdom consumes about 100,000 tons of salt per year.

“We consume a maximum of almost 100,000 tons of salt per year. However, if just 20,000 tons of cheaper salt is imported, it will affect local production and force us to keep the surplus salt in storage,” he said.