The Hindu Business Line : AP units told to hike iodised salt output

Demand-supply gap
The production of iodised salt in the State was 21,000 tonnes and 16,000 tonnes during 2004 and 2005
The Salt Commissioner has said that the output of iodised salt needs to go up to at least 2 lakh tonnes
He also has asked the Andhra Pradesh Government to stop notices for NALA arrears

Visakhapatnam , Sept. 12

In spite of long coastline of 1,000 km, Andhra Pradesh is facing a shortfall in production of common salt and iodised salt.

Mr S. Sundaresan, Salt Commissioner, is of the view that output, especially that of iodised salt, should be increased.

He was speaking at a one-day seminar on promoting iodised salt here on Tuesday.

Self-sufficiency

He said India, the third largest producer of salt in the world after the US and China, was producing on the aggregate 160 lakh tonnes per annum and last year 38 lakh tonnes of salt was exported to China, Japan and other countries.

"The average production in Andhra Pradesh is 3 lakh tonnes per annum and the requirement in the State is 7 lakh tonnes, 3.75 lakh tonnes of it for edible use and the rest for industrial use."

He believed that "the demand-supply gap in the State can be bridged and self-sufficiency achieved with a little effort." Mr Sundaresan said the production of iodised salt in the State was 21,000 tonnes and 16,000 tonnes during 2004 and 2005 and "only 10,500 tonnes till July this year." He said the output of iodised salt needs to be improved drastically and it should go up to at least 2 lakh tonnes.

He thanked the Andhra Pradesh Government for recently lifting VAT on salt and also for exempting salt manufacturers from paying non-agricultural land assessment (NALA) tax. "However, salt makers are being issued notices for NALA arrears and the Andhra Pradesh Government should take remedial steps," he pleaded.

Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, Minister for Agriculture and also for Civil Supplies, said the Andhra Pradesh Government was committed to promoting the universal use of iodised salt, to tackle the iodine deficiency disorders, and it would take all steps to help the salt manufacturers and farmers to produce the required iodised salt.

Iodisation

The Minister said that currently branded salt was being sold at Rs 8 or so per kg and the common (crystal) salt at Rs 2 a kg or so in the State.

"The Civil Supplies Department will supply the required potassium iodide and the machinery and you should add a little value to the product. The common man can't afford the branded salt," he said.

He added: "If you take up iodisation, the product can be sold through the 50,000 fair price shops at Rs 4 per kg or so. Both the salt makers as well as the consumers will be benefited."

`Iodisation not possible'

However, several of the small-scale salt manufacturers told the Minister that it would not be possible for them to take up iodisation of salt at their level.

The Civil Supplies Department should procure salt from them at Rs 2 per kg and take up iodisation.

Mr V. Nageswara Rao, representative of the small salt manufacturers, told the Minister in plain terms that it would not be possible for the small players to take up iodisation of salt at the ground level.

"Only the bigger players will remain in the field, if you make iodised salt compulsory, and don't give us a helping hand. We have our apprehensions on this count," he told the Minister. Mr K. Ramakrishna, Commercial Taxes Minister, and several officials spoke at the seminar.

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