Beef shortage hits SGPDA market again, customers disappointed

Customers, who came to the PDA market for purchase of beef meat, had to return home disappointed after the stalls were found shut. The shutters of one or two stalls were down, but meat was sold by these stalls from behind the premises. A stall owner informed that beef supplies have not come on Tuesday, adding that he is disposing of the stock lying in his stall.

Sources are trying to figure out whether the beef traders and the contractor appointed to slaughter the animals at the Goa Meat Complex have come face to face over the issue of increase in the rates of live animals. Sources informed that the rates of live animals have gone up by Rs 20, from the existing Rs 195 to Rs 215.

When The Goan contacted the Managing Director of Goa Meat Complex, Dr Rajesh Kenny to shed light on the beef shortage at the SGPDA market, he said there’s no issue as far as the service provided by the Goa Meat Complex is concerned. “We provide the facility for the slaughter of animals. The contractor gets the animals for slaughter as per the order placed by the traders. As far as our facility is concerned, there is no problem at all. Our facility is available for the slaughter of animals,” he added.

He, however, said that the contractor has procured the animals for slaughter on Tuesday, adding that the supply of beef should hopefully resume from Wednesday.

Interestingly, beef was available at most of the cold storages across Salcete and outside. President of the All Goa Cold Storage Owners Association, Vernon Lobo told The Goan that the cold storage units had procured their meat from the Goa Meat Complex and was sold to the customers in the last two days.