Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: With Eid-e-Milad barely two weeks away and the onset of Goa’s peak tourism period, the State is grappling with a severe beef shortage that threatens to disrupt both festive and hospitality demands.
The crunch follows a strike by cattle traders in Maharashtra and Karnataka, who have halted supplies citing harassment and attacks by vigilante groups during cattle transportation. The move has left Goa dependent on limited inflows from Telangana, which fall far short of requirements.
“Goa’s daily requirement is around 20-25 tonnes, and even more during festivals, but at present only about five tonnes are reaching us. This is not enough to meet the needs of households, restaurants, bakeries, and hotels. With Eid on September 4 and tourists arriving soon after, the shortage is bound to cause problems for all,” said Anwar Bepari, General Secretary of the Quraishi Meat Traders Association.
While a few private suppliers from Telangana are delivering small consignments, traders admit that prices have shot up due to high procurement costs. However, they claim they are yet to pass the increase on to local consumers. “Losses are mounting, but we are absorbing them for now,” said one trader.
The Quraishi Meat Traders Association has petitioned Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, seeking government intervention to restore regular supply channels and explore contingency measures to ensure adequate availability during the festival season and the tourist influx.
