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Beefing up for tourism industry in Goa
The lumpy skin disease in cattle jeopardised the related industry in the country as more than 75,000 cattle have died since June this year and farmers across the country are facing the brunt of the endemic.
Rumours related to Lumpy Skin Disease spread like wildfire even as the scientists at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute and Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute of Virology confirming that the disease in animals was not zoonotic and cannot be transmitted to human beings. They have also confirmed that milk and meat of even the infected cattle is safe for consumption. Nevertheless, due to a sharp decline in milk production by the infected cattle, the milk industry has taken a hit since India is the largest milk producing nation.
Goa is relatively safe with only 15 cases of infection reported and no deaths as the infected cattle have been treated and recovered. However, the economic issues still persist as the import of cattle from other states remains banned since its imposition on September 24 by the District Collectors.
According to the meat traders, Goa consumes around 25 tonnes of beef every day including the demand from the hospitality industry. However, since the ban on transportation of cattle into Goa, meat traders have been forced to import beef from neighbouring states. Due to the lumpy disease scare the consumption too has reduced drastically to about 10 tonnes daily.
As per industry experts, during the last one month alone, the meat traders and related businesses have incurred direct trade losses of about Rs 15 crore due to dip in demand. If other allied businesses such as the hospitality industry if considered then the losses could double to the tune of atleast Rs 30 crore. The trade deficit directly impacts the revenue to the State in the form of GST from direct and indirect trade of the meat consumed in Goa.
The Qureshi Meat Traders Association of Goa has requested the government to lift the ban imposed on import of buffaloes into the State. Goa is one of the first states to have banned cow slaughter, while slaughter of bulls and buffaloes and beef trading is permitted.
As the State has heralded into its first post-pandemic tourism season, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should ensure that the hospitality industry does not face avoidable economic brunt due to continued short supply of beef in Goa. With strict compliance of procedures, the government should enable import of cattle, especially buffaloes to facilitate the supply of beef for domestic as well as hospitality consumption.
The abattoir at the Goa Meat Complex at Usgao-Ponda is a state-of-art plant with latest technology-backed process and ensures that quality meat is provided to the consumers across the State.
The government should emphasise on the traders to adhere to norms while transporting the cattle. While a health certificate from a government authorised veterinary has been mandatory even earlier, a special reference to Lumpy Skin Disease should also be made. Additionally, the vet should inform the vaccination status of the cattle and only those cattle which have been vaccinated be permitted to be transported.
The Qureshi Meat Traders Association has emphasised that the transportation of the cattle is from point-to-point basis and therefore there is no fear of being infected while in transit.
The Animal Husbandry Department in Goa should ensure that the cattle arriving at the Goa Meat Complex is examined and a government veterinary grants the fit-for-slaughter certificate.
With a scientific approach and proper precautionary measures in implementation, the government would ensure that the meat trade dependent hospitality industry does not suffer in its fresh beginning after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tourists, both foreign and domestic, visit Goa to enjoy the beaches, alcohol and the quality meat served across the length and breadth of the State.
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