The Goan: With the halt in the mining operations in Goa whatis the impact on FMCG industry in the state?
B M Prabhudesai: Since FMCG and pharmaceutical products aresold across the counters, in the mining belts the retail sales of both areaffected by 60 to 70 percent. A retailer in Honda who did a business of Rs45,000 in a day in pharmaceutical products is now selling goods worth Rs 7000now. (make this green portion into a quote blurb). It’s the same in Sanquelim,Bicholim, Valpoi and Assonora. In the Sanvardem-Sanguem belt the impact is 50percent while in cities like Margao and Panjim 10 percent sales are down.However,the FMCG turnover has not dropped anywhere, at the distributor’s or thewholesalers point. It is in the rural, mining belts that sales of retailershave slumped placing them under pressure. They are not in a position to repaythe credit amount that they invested in consumables as the sales are limited.
TG: Which goods have been affected the most?
BMP: The sales of everyday consumable goods like biscuits,chocolates, soaps, toothpastes and medicines are affected. These items had adefinite and fixed monthly demand which is now indefinite and low. Thefinancial crunch is most felt in these small consumables.
