Team Herald
MARGAO: As Goans prepare for the upcoming Easter festivities, an acute beef shortage has hit the State, causing concern among vendors, restaurant owners, and consumers, leading to a spike in prices. The acute shortage has also raised questions about the government’s handling of the situation.
Supply issues have compelled beef vendors in Margao to hike the prices by Rs 50 per kg. They worry about compromised beef quality if the supply chain is not restored soon.
This crisis has led to widespread frustration, with many criticising the government for not resolving the issue before Easter, a peak consumption period. The shortage has caused significant market disruptions and financial losses for vendors, restaurants, and eateries.
In the Margao SGPDA market, anxious customers and vendors were seen waiting for fresh stock, mostly in vain.
Riyaz Shaikh, a beef vendor in Margao, said, “The supply situation is still unresolved. We’ve had no choice but to raise prices, as we too are facing increased rates from suppliers. These are legitimate businesses, and it’s the government’s responsibility to ensure we can operate safely. Allowing a few individuals to disrupt the trade is not only unfair, but illegal.”
He urged swift action from authorities, highlighting beef’s importance as a staple food and deeming the situation in Goa unjust, along with the government’s silence.
Another vendor, Shabhir Shaikh, said, “The rising costs, with boneless beef now selling for Rs 500-550/kg (previously Rs 450), loam has gone up from Rs 500 to Rs 550/kg, and undercut has increased from Rs 600 to Rs 650/kg.”
Customers voiced their anger at the lack of availability during the festive season.
A shopper at the SGPDA market said, “We have the right to eat what we want. Denying us access to beef, especially during Easter, is unfair. The government must step in immediately.”
For vendors and traders, Easter usually means high demand, but this year, the shortage has left many struggling to meet expectations, resulting in lost income and growing tension in the markets.
Meanwhile, in Panjim, shortage of meat continued as the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) is yet to provide temporary sheds to six displaced meat vendors.
In January this year, the Supreme Court had directed the CCP to allot fixed spots to displaced meat vendors in a temporary fish market in Panjim, after the building which the meat vendors were occupying was demolished.
When contacted, Qureshi Meat Traders’ Association president Mannasab Bepari said, “We are yet to restart our business since we were displaced in August last year. The meat lovers have to either go to Santa Cruz or Mapusa to buy beef and meat. Many meat lovers faced hardships during Eid and now again it will be repeated during Easter. Our livelihood has been affected and we have been requesting the CCP to provide us temporary sheds in the south-east portion of the shed built for the fish vendors as per the Supreme Court order.”
According to Bepari, the CCP commissioner Clen Madeira has written to them stating that the work of construction of temporary shops for meat vendors in the municipal fish market shed is already tendered and once the tendering process is completed, the work order will be issued to the concerned agency for carrying out the work.