RAJKOT: When the first lockdown came into force in March, edible salt manufacturers in Kutch were staring at a massive pile up of stock. But the rapid spread of coronavirus and government aid to the poor during lockdown has resulted in salt consumption increasing by around 40% in May and June.
While the governments have distributed crores of ration kits that included 1 kg salt, there has been a manifold increase in the number of households regularly using salt for gargling and sanitising vegetables as prescribed by experts and doctors. Kutch manufactures nearly 3 crore tonnes of salt annually, accounting for 80% of the countrys consumption.
According to rough estimates, Kutch was transporting six lakh tonnes of edible salt every month before lockdown, which increased to 10 lakh ton per month during May and June. Shamji Kangad, vice-president, Indian Salt Manufacturers Association (ISMA) said, “Covid is one of the major reasons for increased uptake of salt.
Patients who test positive and healthy people too suffering from sore throat and cough are now diligently following Ayurveda to gargle. Entire families are following this practice now.”
“In big cities, people have been advised to soakRead More – Source
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