What may seem like a distant geopolitical crisis, the ongoing tensions and conflict in West Asia is now casting a very real shadow over everyday life in Goa. Thousands of miles away from the epicentre of the crisis, Goans are beginning to feel its ripple effects on their dining tables. At the heart of the issue lies the sharp increase in bulk diesel prices, reportedly raised by Rs 23 per litre by the central government. With such a steep hike, trawler owners are reportedly finding it economically unviable to venture into the sea. This directly disrupts the supply chain of fish, a staple food in Goan households. This will inevitably drive up the price of fish. Fishermen’s associations across Goa have raised alarm bells, urging swift intervention. They have requested the state government to appeal to the central government to reconsider the diesel pricing policy and extend subsidies or relief measures similar to those reportedly provided to fishermen in Gujarat. When global conflicts begin to dictate what ends up on our plates, it becomes clear that no place is too distant to remain untouched.
