Commerce authorities in Liberia say there is no shortage of the country’s stable food, rice contrary to speculations of insufficient rice on the market.
The Commerce Ministry’s clarification comes at the time Liberians were experiencing jump in the price of the commodity from USD$13.50 cent to almost USD$20.00.
Though rice is unlikely to be seemed on the local Liberian market, Commerce Minister Marwine Diggs, attributed the hike in the price of rice to speculations in the public that the commodity is not in Country.
Minister. Diggs maintained that there’s sufficient rice on the Market and disclosed plans by Government of Liberia to work, with Rice importers to resolve the situation in a shorted possible time.
She however, said offloading of the rice from the vessels at the Free Port of Monrovia by importers some time delay, but that does not amount to rice shortage.
The Commerce Minister encouraged public to remain peaceful as the Government is doing everything possible to ensure the supplies of rice on the local market for consumers
“We have enough rice at the port of Monrovia to take us from now to November of this year, therefore I’m calling on all Liberians not to panic as I’m closely in conversation with the importers”. Minister Diggs averted.
Minister. Diggs told a News conference Saturday,September 4,2021, that the Price of Rice on the Liberian Market remains on sale for USD$13.00 for Wholesaler on the 25KG rice, while retailers is USD$13.50 United States dollars.
She assured that the rice situation, particularly the price of the stable food, will be stabilized in the face of efforts by the Ministry of Commerce and importers to ensure sufficient supplied on the local market.
The Minister also said the Ministry will be robust and will not relent to close down stores and businesses whom are caught in the web of hiking the price of rice for profit making.
The Ministry is working towards setting up tentative retail price for rice to avoid the artificial shortage.
In a related development, Minister Diggs, said there’s sufficient frozen food on the Liberian market.
