Obediah Johnson
Africa-Press – Liberia. As the presidential and legislative elections approach the price of rice continues to surge, causing additional hardship for the impoverished population. Deputy Minister for Regional Development, Research, and Extension at the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. George Tee Forkpoh, has revealed that the ministry lacks the capacity to produce the country’s staple food for consumption.
Presently, a 25kg bag of rice is being sold for 3,200LD (US$18.75) in Monrovia and its surrounding areas, marking an increase from the previous price of US$13. This surge in rice prices further burdens the majority of Liberians who are already living in poverty.
Minister Forkpoh clarified that the ministry does not have the mandate to engage in farming activities, rendering it incapable of producing the country’s staple food. During an appearance on the Super Morning Show on ELBC, he explained that the ministry’s role is to provide extensive advisory services to local farmers and ensure they receive necessary inputs where applicable.
Minister Forkpoh emphasized that one effective approach to reduce the heavy reliance on rice imports is by providing adequate support to local farmers. He disclosed that the government has been supporting and supervising local farmers in their rice production efforts. The ministry is currently supporting two rice mills in Lofa County, along with smaller rice mills in the South-East.
“Our key way of making sure that we can change the paradigm of this rice importation is to support our farmers. There are two rice mills in Lofa County being supported by the ministry. In addition, we have smaller rice mills also in the Southeast,” he said.
Furthermore, Minister Forkpoh revealed that the ministry has provided support and supervision to a private farmer who operates a rice mill capable of processing up to 18 metric tons of rice per day. When asked why the ministry is not directly engaged in farming, he clarified that it lacks the authority to do so based on the current legislation.
To address this issue, Minister Forkpoh emphasized the need to revisit and amend the existing act that governs the ministry. He highlighted that the ministry requires the authority to engage in rice farming, and once the act is amended, the government, through the National Legislature, would be obligated to allocate resources for the Ministry of Agriculture to participate in rice farming.
Regarding public criticism of the ministry’s perceived inaction, Minister Forkpoh explained that many citizens fail to understand the ministry’s mandate. He compared it to doctors or school administrators who do not visit households regularly, asking citizens if their children are sick or attending school. He also mentioned that the ministry has decentralized its activities to reach farmers at the community, district, regional, and county levels.
Minister Forkpoh reiterated the importance of supporting local farmers to reduce rice imports in Liberia. Additionally, he highlighted cassava as the country’s second staple food and mentioned that the ministry has installed cassava processing machines in Bomi, Montserrado, and other areas. The ministry has categorized different geographic regions as crop-producing zones to facilitate targeted support for farmers in those areas.
source:frontpageafricaonlin
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