Iodized salt is vital for a child’s physical and mental development. Modern and quality salt farming can take the process to the next level, making it easily available for everyone.

Hopefully, everyone will come forward to get involved in producing quality salt on 59,560.90 acres of land. But for making it successful, farmers need practical knowledge alongside the establishment of display fields provided by the Government andother private sectors.

Bumper production will greatly benefit farmers on the fringe level and improve their living standards as well. Everyone has to keep trying and the process of development will continue flourishing if certain essential modifications are put in place.

I am thankful to Islampur Salt Mill Owner Versatile Cooperative Society Limited (ISMOS) and UNICEF Bangladesh for coming up with such an initiative. I am highly optimistic that it will lead to the production and availability of quality iodized salt for the public and be able to export abroad to meet the needs of the country which will play a vital role in our national development.

I wish the salt producers overall success. 

Mohammad Shafiul Alam
Cabinet Secretary
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) under the Ministry of Industries with the collaboration of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been implementing the project “Universal Salt Iodization ”since 1989. The statistics of 2011-12 shows that it has been possible to deliver iodized salt to the doors of 80% population of the country.

I believe that this initiative of establishing field level display centers taken by Islampur Salt Mill Owner Versatile Cooperative Society Limited (ISMOS) in collaboration with UNICEF Bangladesh and BSCIC will play a vital role in ensuring the delivery of iodized salt to the doors of the rest 20% of our population. And I do believe that this joint effort will make sure the quality salt production and thus our people will be benefitted. As a result it will improve the living standard of field level farmers who our involved with this project.

I wish every success of this project.

Md. Abdul Halim
Secretary
Ministry of Industries
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) arethe leading cause of preventable mental development disorders in young children. It ranges from stunted growth to more subtle degrees of impaired cognitive development.The consequences of IDD affect hundreds of millions of children and adults. They include reducedIQ levels, poorer school performance and lower work capacity. It is also blamed for still-births, miscarriages, physical impairment and thyroid dysfunctions.

IDD was identified as a major public health issue in Bangladesh in the 1980s. Between 1981 and 1997, a programme to administer injected iodized oil was implemented in districts with high rates of IDD. However, as the wider prevalence of IDD came to be known, fortification of salt with iodine was found to be a far more cost-effective and sustainable solution. In 1989, the Government of Bangladesh passed a law making it mandatory for all edible salt to be iodized in line with the global recommendation of Universal Salt Iodization (USI). Based on it, the production of iodized salt was initiated in Bangladesh in 1990.

UNICEF has been supporting the Ministry of Industries since 1981 for the implementation of the salt iodization programme in Bangladesh. This includes – among other measures - support for the development of appropriate salt iodization technology in the country, capacity strengthening of salt millers, establishment of a monitoring systemand effective implementation of legislation.

Currently, UNICEF is working with both the public and private sectors, i.e. Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) under the Ministry of Industries and Islampur Salt Mill Owner Versatile Cooperative Society Limited (ISMOS), to improve the availability of adequately iodized salt for all. Improvements of quality and in the quantity of crude salt are some of the critical issues that greatly effect the production of quality salt. This is an issue of critical importance for the achievement of USI and the national human resource development.

I would like to sincerely thank BSCIC and ISMOS for their active initiatives in this regard. I also wish success to the Ministry of Industries in taking necessary actions to scale up the concerned initiatives nationwide.

Tomoo Hozumi
Representative
UNICEF Bangladesh

BSCIC deserves great credit for starting the salt industry programme. At present in Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram districts, 27,528 farmers have used the polythene technique in an area totaling 59,563.90 acres. Every year on average the salt industry sector contributes about 1,200 crore Taka to the national economy. About 10 to 15 lacs of people of Bangladesh are directly or indirectly dependent on the salt industry. BSCIC, along with the development partners have been operating the Universal Salt Iodization (USI) programme since 1989. The government and development partners have been joined by the private organization Islampur Salt Mill Owner Versatile Cooperative Society Limited (ISMOS) which has stepped up its development of the salt industry. The participation of both government and non-government sectorsis a milestone in the development of the salt industry in Bangladesh.

As a result of this combined effort, BSCIC has established a 10 acre exhibition salt field in Chowfaldandi, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Cox’s Bazar and Islampur Salt Mill Owner Versatile Cooperative Society Limited (ISMOS) has established a three year term 24 acre training-cum exhibition salt field in Khan Ghuna, Islampur, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Cox’s Bazar with direct technical support from UNICEF Bangladesh by 2018-2019 season. The result will definitely ensure top quality salt production.

An example is being set up both at the public level and private level with the technical assistance of UNICEF Bangladesh in the development of salt industry. Wishing the success of this joint venture too.

Md. Mostaque Hassan, NDC
Chairman (Additional Secretary)
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC)

Human life from birth to death depends on different nutritive elements. Iodine is such an element which - within proper limitations - is needed every day. Salt is the best means of taking this vital elementto the human body. I strongly believe that the triumph of quality salt farming and quality iodinated salt production are significant milestones.

This enterprise is a new horizon in terms of collaboration from the government, the salt owners’ association, farmers and UNICEF Bangladesh. The basic goal of this enterprise is to develop the living standards of fringe-level farmers while simultaneously ensuring that iodinated salt is 100 percent available across Bangladesh.

Thanks to Islampur Salt Mill Owner Versatile Cooperative Society Limited (ISMOS) and UNICEF Bangladesh for their joint venture in establishing 24 acres display field that features a Quality Salt Farm. I hope that people of Bangladesh will get more iodized salt through the development of more of these ventures. I wish success to everybody involved in this enterprise.

Md. Kamal Hossain
Deputy Commissioner
Cox’s Bazar

The development of the baby's brain begins in the mother's womb before birth. Iodine is an essential mineral for the development of the brain and the normal functioning of the body. Iodine deficiency in the body impairs the development of intelligence; intelligence can be as low as 10-15 points IQ. We need very little iodine throughout our lives to stay healthy. But it is essential for us to eat a small amount of iodine every day.

Since 1971, UNICEF Bangladesh has teamed up with Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and salt mill owners to provide technical assistance for the implementation of universal iodized salt activities.

From the long experience of implementing universal iodized salt program in Bangladesh, we have identified the weak points of the program and set out a program to address it. An important initiative in 2018-2019 is the establishment of 10 acres of land in Cox's Bazar by BSCIC and 24 acres of modern salt farming exhibition grounds by Islampur Salt Mill Owners Versatile Cooperative Society Limited. We thank the leadership of BSCIC and the contribution of Islampur Salt Mill Owners Versatile Cooperative Society Limited in this activity. This activity has given us the expected results.

We are very hopeful that with the technical assistance of BSCIC and Islampur Salt Mill Owners Versatile Cooperative Society Limited, all salt farmers will be able to promote high quality salt cultivation by implementing such timely initiatives of modern salt cultivation. UNICEF Bangladesh always encourages up-to-date innovation and will continue to provide technical assistance to achieve the goal of universal iodized salt activities.

Piyali Mustafi
Head, Department of Nutrition
UNICEF, Bangladesh

I feel proud to be a part of Islampur Salt Mill Owner Versatile Cooperative Society Limited (ISMOS) and their effort to make salt cultivation become more modern and developed. I have no doubt it will eventually make the sector more successful and effective. The combined effort of the salt cultivators, millers and UNICEF to introduce developed salt cultivation to our country is testimony to the skills and perseverance of all people involved in this sector. The aim of this project is to produce quality iodized salt and take it to marginalized people, thereby eradicating iodine shortages. It is no exaggeration to say that the participation of all the partners in this project reflects their responsibility towards humanity andtheir contribution towards making our country more prosperous.

I especially mention Dr. Ireen Akhter Chowdhury, Nutrition Officer, UNICEF, Bangladesh whose ceaseless endeavors have enabled us to make this journey possible.The assistance of UNICEF has not only triggered more optimism among the cultivators of Bangladesh, but also a renewed confidence that iodized salt can benefit everyone, no matter where they live.

Please join us and let us change ourselves and others as well with the slogan ‘Let’s Make a Change’.

Shamsul Alam Azad
President
Islampur Salt Mill Owner Versatile Cooperative Society Limited (ISMOS)