Production hit in Thoothukudi after unseasonal rains inundate TN salt pans

Heavy rain in Thoothukudi district, which produces the maximum salt in South India, has led to the inundation of salt pans, causing a significant decline in production. According to the Thoothukudi salt industry, the annual production of salt from the district is typically 20 lakh tonnes; however, this year it has only reached 12 lakh tonnes as the season comes to an end in October. This sharp decline in production will have major consequences for both manufacturers and workers. The Tuticorin Small Scale Salt Manufacturers Association (TSSSMA) stated on Thursday that production has been severely impacted, and the continuing rains forecasted will further complicate the situation for already beleaguered manufacturers. With reduced salt production, there is a potential for a price hike. Currently, one tonne of quality salt sells for anywhere between Rs 2,200 and Rs 3,500. However, due to the drastic decline in production, prices are expected to rise in the coming days. M. Thenraja, President of the Tuticorin Salt Merchants Association, noted that buyers have shifted to Gujarat, which is the largest manufacturer of salt in the country, following the lull in production. He added that Gujarat has already captured 60 percent of the market, negatively affecting the Thoothukudi industry. The TSSSMA reported that production in 50 percent of salt pans at Tiruchendur, Punnaikayil, Kayalpattinam, and Veppaladai has significantly decreased due to the unseasonal rains. The association mentioned that after the floods in 2023, the industry was slowly recovering, but the sudden rains have posed a major hindrance to salt production in the district. It is important to note that salt production typically commences in mid-February and ends in September, just before the northeast monsoon hits the state in October. The Thoothukudi salt industry, which is the second-largest in the country after Gujarat, employs around 30,000 workers. Veerasami, a social activist based in Thoothukudi, expressed concerns to IANS: "If salt production is affected, then around 30,000 workers and their families will face difficulties. In fact, Thoothukudi's production capacity is 25 lakh tonnes; last year it produced 20 lakh tonnes, and this season it has dropped to about 12 lakh tonnes. This decline will create significant challenges for both salt manufacturers and workers and their families."