“The government has taken steps to control salt import,” he said at a workshop as the chief guest at Hotel Long Beach in the morning.
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and Unicef Bangladesh jointly organised the programme. State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed was present as special guest, said a press release of the ministry.
Ahmed said that the government is actively trying to save local industries. “It’ll be possible to become self-reliant in salt production if we can protect the farmers,” he said.
The government will take initiatives to buy salt directly from the farmers, he added.
Speakers at the workshop on salt farming emphasised on raising the price of salt at the farmers’ level. They also recommended the use of local salt at factories.
BSCIC chairman said that the farmers will be supplied with new salt farming technology with the technical assistance of Unicef.
“An initiative has been taken to issue microcredit among the farmers,” he said. “A proposal to open a separate department on salt is being processed.”