According to records of Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, many salt fields in the coastal area of Quat Lam, Giao Ninh commune, Ninh Binh province are no longer being produced, the field surface is cracked, weeds grow lushly. The dyke system and water canals are seriously degraded, many places are damaged, no longer capable of serving production.
Local people said that the desolate scene has lasted for many years, making the appearance of the coastal area desolate.
Mr. Tran Van Hao (resident of Giao Ninh commune) shared: "Previously, my family made salt, earning income from the salt industry, but in recent years we have quit the profession, leaving the fields fallow. Salt production depends heavily on weather, while the climate changes, sunshine and rain are erratic, efficiency has decreased significantly. My family has a crop that takes a whole month without earning much. Meanwhile, costs are increasing but salt prices are low, output is unstable, working hard but income is not enough to live on, so we cannot cling to the salt fields, we have to change careers.
Not only economic difficulties, the abandonment of salt fields also entails many consequences such as environmental pollution, waste generation, and affecting the coastal tourist landscape. Some areas have stagnant water for a long time, becoming a breeding ground for insects, posing a potential risk of epidemics.
Faced with this situation, Mr. Doan Phi Truong - Vice Chairman of Giao Ninh Commune People's Committee - said that the Hieu field area in Giao Ninh commune still has about 40ha of abandoned salt fields.
Salt making is associated with harsh hot weather, so not many people want to stick with the profession, in the past, if people did it, most of them were elderly workers, young workers developed the economy in a different direction or went to work as workers in industrial parks. Local authorities have also oriented towards abandoned salt fields. Currently, businesses have come to survey and want to rent back the salt field area to expand the area of factories. If site clearance is granted, people will be very supportive because salt making earns low income, and land left empty will cause waste" - Vice Chairman of Giao Ninh Commune People's Committee informed.
Reality shows that the problem of converting abandoned salt fields is not only an economic story but also related to livelihoods, environment and sustainable development of the locality. If there is a suitable direction, today's deserted salt fields can completely become a new resource for the coastal region in the future.
