Fresh Beef Supply Resumes in Goa After Month-Long Disruption

The supply of fresh beef to Goa has resumed after a nearly month-long disruption that caused significant shortages throughout the state. As of Tuesday, fresh consignments sourced from Karnataka began reaching retail outlets following processing at the Goa Meat Complex Limited (GMCL) in Usgao.

Consumers across the region can now access beef once again, alleviating the strain caused by a severe supply decrease. According to an official statement, “All those who placed orders received their consignments.” The restoration of supply was facilitated by an existing partnership between GMCL and Karnataka-based Sunface Agrofoods Pvt Ltd.

Transport and Processing of Livestock

Over the weekend, approximately 50 animals were transported from Karnataka to Goa. The GMCL confirmed that these animals underwent mandatory ante-mortem testing before slaughtering occurred on Monday.

Sunface Agrofoods Pvt Ltd has equipped the Usgao facility with advanced blast-freezing technology, enabling the freezing of freshly slaughtered livestock within just 30 minutes. “Even though we are here to export beef, our priority is to ensure that meat traders in Goa have enough supply,” stated Asim Chikodi, managing director of Sunface Agrofoods Pvt Ltd. On Tuesday, the company supplied around six to seven tonnes of beef to local traders.

Goa had experienced a notable beef shortage in August, with supply plummeting by nearly 85%. Daily availability dropped from an average of 20 tonnes to a mere 2-5 tonnes, not accounting for the 8-10 tonnes typically directed to cold storage facilities and hotels. This disruption primarily arose from a strike by meat traders in the neighboring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Ongoing Challenges for Local Traders

Despite the resumption of supply, local meat sellers express concerns regarding the current quantity available. Anwar Bepari, general secretary of the Quraishi Meat Traders Association, noted, “Most of the stock was exhausted by afternoon.” He emphasized the need for GMCL to increase the number of animals processed, stating, “Full-fledged sale will resume once the regular supply resumes.”

As the demand for beef remains high, local traders are optimistic that the collaboration between GMCL and Sunface Agrofoods will stabilize supply in the coming days. The situation in Goa underscores the importance of reliable supply chains in meeting consumer needs, particularly in times of disruption.