Amidst a division between bakers in Salcete over the price of bread with some sticking to Rs 5 and others going back to Rs 4 a loaf, life members of the All Goa Association of Bakers (AGAB) have confirmed that bread is being sold at Rs 5.
A senior member of the association from Panjim said pao was being sold at Rs 5 for 50 grams but that the wholesale rates differs from ‘poder to poder’ and the weight of the bread also differs slightly. At some places a loaf of 45 grams was being sold.
However, Concessao Da Costa, the joint secretary of AGAB says he is backing the bakers from Salcete who are selling pao for Rs 4. He reasoned that members like him were not taken into confidence when the rate hike was announced and that some pending issues amongst the associations, such as wholesale rate and weight were not resolved. He felt that after these two demands were resolved, a call should have been taken about the price rise.
Other life members felt that this disagreement should settle down as in the end the price of pao should remain at Rs 5 given the high operational costs bakers are facing and the lack of support they have received from the government on a large number of issues plaguing their industry.
