PANJIM: The Goa Meat Complex, Usgao has signed a tripartite agreement with the Sunface Agro Foods Private Limited, Hubbali and the Quraishi Meat Traders’ Association, Mapusa to slaughter minimum 50 animals per day in the abattoir.
Currently only 10 buffaloes were slaughtered per day at the abattoir even as it was stopped after both the District Magistrates banned transportation of cattle and buffaloes to Goa from neighbouring States, on account of outbreak of lumpy skin disease.
Goa Meat Complex Managing Director Dr Marwin Lopes said, “We have signed an agreement with Sunface Agro Foods Private Limited and Quraishi Meat Traders’ Association to slaughter minium 50 buffaloes per day. Sunface Agro Foods Private Limited is in the process of getting Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) licence for exports. Once they get this licence, the Goa Meat Complex abattoir will operate in one shift and slaughter minimum 50 animals per day.”
Dr Lopes said that if there is a demand then the number of buffaloes slaughtered could be increased to a maximum of 300 animals per day (which is the capacity of the abattoir) in three shifts by strictly following the Act and all the rules in force.
After the Sunface Agro Foods Pvt Ltd gets the licence, the abattoir will be utilised to its full capacity and the State-run Goa Meat Complex will start generating revenues.
He said that if the full capacity of the slaughter house is utilised it could fetch a revenue of Rs 37.5 lakh per month.
“The Sunface Agro Foods Private Limited will export meat to Middle East countries, where there is demand for buffalo’s meat,” he informed.
The Goa Meat Complex established in 1982 was modernised in 2015. As the abattoir remained closed due to certain technicalities even after modernisation, the meat traders approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa, who directed the State government to commence operations and provide slaughter services in the Goa Meat Complex to the traders being the only authorised slaughter house.
The government had invited e-tenders to run the modern abattoir for a period of 10 years. But since there were no bidders, the Quraishi Meat Traders’ Association and Sunface Agro Foods Private Limited, came forward to sign an agreement. It is learnt that the Sunface Agro foods will source the live animals for the meat traders from neighbouring States.
