Why Salt Farmers Risk Their Lives To Harvest Desert Salt For $4 A Ton | Big Business

India is one of the world's top salt producers. Most of the country's salt comes from the desert of the Little Rann of Kutch. Here, the Agariya people do the dangerous job of farming salt. They face extreme temperatures of 118 degrees Fahrenheit, skin diseases from the harsh sun and saltwater, and blindness from light reflecting on the white landscape. They make just $4 a ton, while traders take home most of the profits. So how did the Agariyas become trapped in the big business of salt? We head to India to find out.

Editor's Note: This video omitted the credit of Raunaq Chopra. He was both a field producer and videographer.

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Why Salt Farmers Risk Their Lives To Harvest Desert Salt For $4 A Ton | Big Business

[danparish]

Keeping the farmers poor means they can’t invest in the tools to refine the salt themselves, it’s really vicious

[FarmerJay]

I tried farming salt in India as part of a volunteer experience. The dry heat is worse than a hair dryer up your nose with only warm water to drink. This job is unbelievably hard its like a 10 hour gym session for them they make it look easy. If you can help them store that water and transform it into drinking water you will help them in incredible ways. Local ppl have underground storage tanks with tortoise to help keep their drinking water clean. Unbelievably smart people, give them an idea and they will put it into practice.

[xenocide]

Absolutely disgusting how so many of the raw producers doing all the dangerous back breaking work across so many industries are taken advantage of by their own governments and don't even make enough to better their lives of those of their children. The salt farmers need a satisfactory minimum market price, land ownership, decriminalization of all their agricultural acts, and more government assistance. There also needs to be legislation that punishes salt refiners for Black Listing salt farmers.

[kimilifeinjapan]

I've learnt about the poverty problem from textbook but got totally shocked seeing it real in the video.
The farmers should be respected not only because of the hard works but the positive attitude towards lives.
Feel blessed to what we have and complain less when encountering dilemmas

[mayankprajapat]

Salt is very cheap in India like 1kg of less than 10 cents but these people do a lot of hardwork and they should be paid more.

[redtyto]

To put that into perspective, one kg of sea salt costs about $ 1.91 in my local supermarket - so a ton is about $ 1910. Pretty amazing how huge the margins are.

[jcdeton]

Why are all the hard working people being treated so poorly? Meanwhile streamers sit all day in a chair being stupid and making more money than anyone who is being productive and contributing to society :(

[rashadhouston]

0:21 His eyes, wow. Calm yet strong spirit. 🙏🏽✨

[udaykale]

I am ashamed that I had to see this story on a foreign media channel rather than an Indian one. This just goes to show how priorities of Indian media are messed up.
Finally great piece of reporting by Business Insider. Keep up the good work!

[davidfigueroa]

When I'm having a horrible day watching stuff like this humbles me real quick.

[worldheartjake]

I was wondering where Square got the inspiration for the Rosalians in Triangle Strategy, and I have to say....it's terrifying to think people are suffering like this in something that isn't fiction...

[QuoteQuestAI]

These people deserve respect and must be payed a livable wage.The Salt "traders" are using the workers! Seeing people being used like this outrages me, it's disgusting!

[rejinraj]

Good piece of reporting guys. And I agree, these poor people should receive a fair price for the work they do.

[rectorx]

They should'nt have to suffer so much to produce such a necessity to the world. Would be great to see people band together and get these guys the best tools and improved lifestyle they deserve

[atharvasaple]

We have come a long way as Indians, from the the salt satyagraha movement led by Mahatma Ghandi as one of the first stepping stones to freedom, to now providing table salt detergents etc. to the common household, massive respect to these workers, its a shame how little they get paid compared to the industrialists, capitalism at its fines. Stuff like this really humbles me.

[kc-kmdu]

I’m not saying they are not underpaid but selling for $260 a ton does not mean they are making $260 a ton. If that is what was meant then it is worded wrong and words have meaning. There are many costs along the way between the desert and its final destination of a dinner table or wherever. Many regular workers get paid off that $260 and yes whatever big company takes a cut too.

[Readbooks]

It is nice to see that Business Insiders gives sight of every small community around the different parts of world and makes everyone aware about their work, which is very much essential.

[seanwhetstone]

"Government subsidized solar panels to power the pumps" (starts ancient hit and miss engine), what a legend!

[jonny-rghv]

I love these videos - truly eye-opening! wish Business Insider would include a way for us all to donate directly to the subjects of their videos. Would love the opportunity to give directly to people like this

[brandonmcgillis]

These guys took combing the desert to a whole new level.