Launched at the onset of this year’s monsoon, the popularity of mobile fish vans is growing fast. The unique initiative by the state’s department of fisheries, is particularly finding favour with those who would have otherwise had to venture into the market just to pick the day’s catch. In fact, the positive response has even prompted the department to introduce more vans in the coming months.
Margao-based businessman Siddharth Karapurkar, for instance, is one of the many regulars at the fish van operating at Navelim. “We locals are happy since we get quality fish at standard rates, thus minimizing the chances of us getting cheated. Also, the government’s decision to entrust operation of the vans to local stakeholders is a great initiative as it helps them financially,” he said.
So far, five fishing societies and self-help groups have been given mobile vans to implement the service. “The fish vans are only given to authorities who are competent to source and supply seafood at an economical rate,” said Sameer Korgaonkar, an officer connected with department of fisheries.
Fish sold at the mobile vans is priced 5% above the wholesale rate, but costs lesser than the retail price. While the government has offered vans to stakeholders gratis, expenses involved in the daily purchase of fish and payment of staff salaries, among other incidentals, has to be borne by the latter.
Seafood such as kingfish, sardines, mackerels, crabs and prawns are sold everyday from 6am to 1pm as the vans move from one area to another. The price for the each changes per day according to the prevailing wholesale rate.
“In the three months that we’ve been operating, the response has been overwhelming,” said Deepak Pagi, president of the Polem open sea cage culture. “We travel within a 40km radius of Polem, catering to customers. It would be interesting to note that people from affluent families have also been frequenting the van.”
Due to the success of the venture, director of the department of fisheries, Shamila Monteiro, said the fleet of mobile fish vans will soon be augmented. “We have decided to launch five more mobile fish vans in the coming months,” she said.
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