How Climate Change Is Disrupting India’s Salt Production

Salt may seem like one of the simplest ingredients in the kitchen, but its production depends heavily on weather. In many parts of India, saline groundwater or seawater is pumped into shallow ponds, where sunlight and heat gradually evaporate the water. As the brine becomes concentrated, sodium chloride crystallises and can be harvested.

India is the world’s third-largest salt producer, with average annual production of around 30.7 million tonnes. Gujarat contributes as much as about 85% of the country’s salt output, making weather disruptions in the state particularly significant.

The solar evaporation process requires a long period of dry weather, adequate sunlight and limited rainfall. Changing rainfall patterns are increasingly disrupting this cycle. Unseasonal or prolonged rain can dilute concentrated brine, slow evaporation and wash away salt crystals that have already formed.

In Gujarat’s Little Rann of Kutch, salt-makers have faced delays in starting production because of persistent rainfall. Some workers have also built mud embankments to prevent freshwater from entering salt pans, although such measures cannot always withstand extreme weather.

A warmer climate does not necessarily mean better conditions for salt production. While higher temperatures can increase evaporation, prolonged monsoons, intense rainfall and cyclones can offset that advantage. Coastal salt-producing regions are particularly exposed to severe storms.

Research institutions such as the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute are developing technologies aimed at improving evaporation and increasing salt yields under unfavourable weather conditions. However, the availability of scalable solutions remains uncertain.

The changing climate therefore presents a growing challenge for an industry that relies on a predictable dry season. From salt pans to kitchen shelves, one of India’s most basic food ingredients remains closely tied to increasingly unpredictable weather.