PANAJI
While beef shortage continues to hit consumers in the State ahead of the festive season, meat traders blamed it on the spike in demand for beef coupled with the ban on imports from neighbouring States like Karnataka.
With the onset of celebrations and feasts across the State, local meat traders too are feeling the pressure as demand surges, leaving both sellers and buyers frustrated.
The Goan spoke to President of Qureshi Meat Traders Association, Manna Bepari to delve into the reasons behind the beef shortage. Bepari attributed the issue primarily to a ban on importing meat from neighboring States, especially Karnataka, a key supplier of beef to Goa.
"There is no beef coming from Karnataka, which has disrupted the supply. Currently, most of the meat in the market comes from local slaughterhouses, particularly the Goa Meat Complex, where only 50 to 60 animals are slaughtered each day. This is significantly insufficient to meet the high demand, especially during the festive season", Bepari explained.
The current price of beef in Goa is Rs 380 per kg for boneless meat and Rs 280 per kg for meat with bones. Despite these rates, demand remains strong across both districts.
Bepari emphasized the need to import beef from neighboring States like Karnataka to meet demand and generate revenue for the government, especially the Animal Husbandry Department. Without these imports, the limited supply in Goa makes it challenging for traders to satisfy consumer needs.
The beef shortage is also beginning to take a toll on local consumers. Sandra D’Souza, who lives in Caranzalem, expressed her frustration with the ongoing issue. “Our family loves non-vegetarian food, especially beef. But recently, it’s been really tough to find quality beef, and even when we do, the portions available are limited,” she said.
Ophelia Fernandes, a resident of Arambol, shared similar concerns. “With so many festivals and feasts happening every week, the demand for beef is high, but the supply just can’t keep up. Sometimes, we have to visit two or three different places just to get what we need. This really needs to be fixed,” she explained.
Along with the supply challenges, Bepari highlighted that the quality of beef in Goa has also been impacted by the shortage.
"The beef available now mainly comes from the Goa Meat Complex, which only offers one or two varieties of meat. If we could import beef from nearby States, we would have more variety and improved quality," he said.
He further elaborated that when beef is brought in from neighboring States like Karnataka, traders also pay fees, which generate revenue for the government, especially for the Animal Husbandry Department.
