Karnataka's Rs 500 crore beef industry crippled after assembly passes anti-cow slaughter bill

The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Protection of Cattle Bill was passed on Monday in the state's legislative council. However, beef supply was hit from December  when the Bill was endorsed by the legislative assembly.

The anti-cow slaughter law has put an almost blanket ban on the sale and purchase of beef. Shortage of supply, forced many traders to increase the price by up to Rs 100 which further hit the sales, said a Hindustan Times report.

The report, quoting a member of the Karnataka Beef Merchant’s Association, said nearly 60 per cent of the stores in the state have been closed as the sellers are not able to bear the losses.

The new law will inflict a fatal blow on Karnataka’s beef industry roughly valued at around Rs 500 crore.

Karnataka exports beef to UAE and Qatar and accounted for $2.5 million in 2019-20, said the report. Goa is also dependent for its beef supplies on Karnataka. 
While the state does not export skin and hides internationally, but finished leather products like purses, travel goods, wallets were worth $8.5 million in 2019-20, the report stated.

With the law coming into effect, a large number of farmers are likely to hit adversely as they are dependent on selling cattle to negate the burden of losses inflicted by the uncertainties in agriculture income in Karnataka which faces floods and droughts frequently.