Build a brand for Bac Lieu salt

Bumper harvest

Bac Lieu is a locality with the largest salt area in the country with nearly 1,400 hectares, of which more than 250 hectares are covered with salt. At this time, the 2023 - 2024 salt crop has passed more than halfway. Although salt prices have decreased compared to the beginning of the season, salt farmers are not too worried because high salt productivity compensates for the price decline.

Talking to us, salt maker Tran Van Cong, who has more than 30 years of experience with the salt-making profession, happily shared that hot sun accompanied by strong winds are favorable conditions for salt grains to crystallize quickly, shortening the time. harvest. Although the price of salt has decreased slightly this year, the harvest is bumper, so it is profitable. The price of white salt sold in the field ranges from VND 1,000-1,200 per kg (down VND 200 - 300 per kg) compared to the beginning of the season.

Mechanization applications

Mr. Ho Minh Chien, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dong Hai High-tech Salt Production Cooperative, shared that current salt production still depends on the weather. When there is strong sunshine, there is a lot of salt, but on the contrary, when there is unseasonal rain, the salt dissolves and you have to start over from the beginning. "In addition to favorable weather factors, this year's salt crop achieved high output because salt makers promoted the application of science and technology in production, especially mechanization of some stages in harvesting and transporting salt", Mr. Chien said.

Mr. Chau Mong Dinh, a member of the cooperative, said that thanks to the application of mechanization in production, 16 hectares only require 3 workers (a reduction of 7 workers compared to traditional salt production). The cost of hiring workers for a salt crop is about VND 50 million per person per year, so he saved over VND 350 million.

However, applying mechanization in salt harvesting requires salt makers to produce salt according to the tarpaulin technology model. The investment cost of tarpaulin per hectare is VND 500 - 700 million. The advantage of production under this model is that the productivity is very high, salt crystallizes quickly, harvest time is shortened, and salt can be harvested in many batches. Not only that, but producing under the tarpaulin model, the quality of salt is also better than that of traditional production, so the selling price is also higher.

Mr. Ho Thanh Tuan, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dong Hai district, said: The whole district has 1,300 hectares of salt production area. According to the survey, only about 13% (175 hectares) of the salt production area has implemented the Tarpaulin Tent model. Dong Hai district proposed that the bank invest capital and mobilize salt makers to participate in cooperative groups and cooperatives to concentrate investment capital to overcome this difficulty.

The salt industry in Bac Lieu was formed and developed for more than 100 years. Bac Lieu salt is popular, widely used domestically, and exported to other countries, especially the Japanese and Korean markets...  Although it has been recognized as a geographical indication of a national intangible cultural heritage, local salt makers still cannot get rich from salt.  

Mr. Luu Hoang Ly, Director of Bac Lieu Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, shared: The salt industry in Bac Lieu is facing many difficulties and challenges, such as the impact of climate change causing unseasonal rain to appear more and more during the salt production crop, the water environment is at risk of pollution. Along with that, people's access to scientific and technical advances is limited and slow to change, mainly relying on traditional production experience, a part of which lacks investment capital and new technical information.

Support VND 130 billion to develop the salt industry

To preserve and improve the efficiency of Bac Lieu salt industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has supported 130 billion VND for the project to upgrade the salt fields of Bac Lieu province. Accordingly, there will be investment in upgrading salt field infrastructure. Households in the project will receive investment in electricity, road upgrades, and irrigation dredging, Improving the efficiency and quality of salt and helping salt makers apply technology to increase salt productivity.

Mr. Pham Van Thieu, Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Lieu province, said that Bac Lieu's salt-making profession has gone through over 100 years with many ups and downs. Salt grains associated with a productive working life have been deeply ingrained in the mind and memory for generations. Although there are still many difficulties, Bac Lieu salt makers are always determined to stick to their profession with the hope that the salt industry will prosper.

According to Mr. Thieu, the traditional salt profession must be preserved. This is confirmed through the approval of the project to improve the value of salt production and processing for the period 2021-2030. In particular, the goal is to maintain a salt production area of 1,500 hectares by 2030 and a salt output to reach 66,000 tons per year.

Vietnam Salt Festival - Bac Lieu 2024 with the theme "Enhancing the value of Vietnamese salt" is expected to be held later this year with many display activities, product introductions, trade exhibitions, forums, conferences, seminars, model tours in Hoa Binh, Dong Hai districts and Bac Lieu city.

The event aims to honor, preserve and develop the traditional salt profession, and enhance the value of the salt profession in Vietnam in general, and that of Bac Lieu province in particular, thereby arousing the love of the traditional profession in the young generation, attracting Young, qualified workforce participating in production, business, and starting a salt industry.