Beef crisis in Kerala: Prices spike as cattle scarcity prompts urgent appeal to Chief Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is facing a severe shortage of beef as the number of livestock arriving at local slaughterhouses has declined sharply. The state heavily relies on neighbouring and nearby states—including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha—to meet its meat demands. However, significant disruptions in the supply chain have severely hit local markets.

According to trade sources, the scarcity has peaked because transport vehicles heading to Kerala are being routinely intercepted and targeted along the way. In response to the escalating crisis, meat merchants have submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, seeking immediate government intervention. The traders are demanding adequate protection for those transporting livestock legally from other states.

Complainants allege that vigilante groups, operating under the guise of enforcing cow slaughter bans, frequently block cattle-laden trucks and extort money. This ongoing harassment has caused a sharp drop in the number of supply trucks reaching major distribution markets across the state.

The supply crunch has driven retail beef prices up to ₹450–₹540 per kilogram in several areas, depending on availability. However, some local markets are still managing to retail meat at relatively lower rates, ranging between ₹380 and ₹400 per kilogram.