MARGAO: Seven years ago, former Defence Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar launched five Mobile Fish Vans (MVFS) in Goa with the aim of providing the common man with affordable fish, and a means of income for local entrepreneurs. Today, the much-hyped business model seems to have failed with neither of those objectives met. One such van operating in Navelim was recently forced to bring down its shutters due to numerous feasibility issues. “When it just launched, there was a rush of customers, but this has died down as we could not meet people’s expectations of subsidised fish.
We maintained quality, but that came at a cost. Without the support from the fisheries department, it was difficult to compete in an uneven playing field,” said Joseph Vaz, Secretary, Navelchea Xetkarancho Ekvott Cooperative Farming Society Limited.
“Since the Directorate of Fisheries name is prominently displayed on the MFV, people feel that the fish is subsidised by the government and then supplied to us. They compare us to the Horticulture Department’s vegetable shops and fight for better rates. Goan customers want to know why trawler owners receive subsidies from the government when even a small percentage does not reach the Goykar’s fish curry rice plate,” said Vaz in the society’s multiple letters to the Fisheries Department.
Vaz lamented that the overheads in maintaining the vehicle and paying staff were eating into their profits, especially since they did not receive the promised fish supply from Fisheries Department trawlers, and had to buy stock from wholesale traders who bring fish from outside the State.
