the goan I network
PONDA
Though a ban on import of fish on account of ‘formalin’ issue has led to a deserted fish market in Ponda, the price of poultry products have remained the same till Thursday.
“We will not increase rates to benefit from the fish import ban. We do business according to our rate chart. We get a message from our supplier regarding the rates and accordingly, we then charge customers,” Yassin Sheikh, a chicken seller at the Ponda market, told The Goan.
While the rate for skinless chicken ranged between Rs 200 and Rs 240 per kilo, sellers admitted that chicken prices could rise if there was a high demand on account of limited availability of fish.
“So far, we have not witnessed any increase in our sale because of the fish issue. But yes, the price could increase in the coming days,” admitted another chicken seller.
An egg wholesaler has increased the rate of eggs from Rs 45 to Rs 50 per dozen, while retailers sell eggs at Rs 60 a dozen.
Meanwhile, four fish vendors operating in the fish market said the fish they had sold had been frozen two days ago.
“With the ban, we have not got any fresh fish. People
too have stopped coming to buy fish,” said a woman fish vendor.
A restaurant manager admitted that business could be affected with the bank on fish imports. “The ban has just started and we had some stock of fish. But in the coming days, it will be a real problem,” said the restaurant manager.
