MONROVIA February 1(LINA) - Finance and Development Planning Minister Amara Konneh is urging Liberians to consume locally grown rice so that Liberia can achieve its goal of food self sufficiency.
Konneh said if Liberians grow and eat locally produced rice and other essential food crops, the country will accumulate wealth to strengthen the agriculture sector and lead to economic growth.
Speaking recently at the Ministry of Information daily Ebola press conference in Monrovia, the Finance Minister asserted that the burden to promote locally produced rice and other agricultural commodities lies on the shoulder of every Liberian.
He also told Liberians that the local rice was healthier than the imported ones because it was organic and lacked too much starch.
He explained that over a million tons of rice is imported every year and the importers earn about US$5 per bag, adding, “We can prevent this money from leaving our country if we encourage the production and sale of more rice in Liberia.”
According to Konneh, investment in the agricultural sector can only be encouraged if Liberians develop interest in locally grown crops.
He disclosed that government is working on plans to put the private sector in charge of rice growing as well as the provision of rice seeds to enhance productivity for local farmers.
“We are going to find the most serious private sector people and issue them the guarantee that government will purchase any amount of rice that they will produce so that we can feed people at prison compounds, hospitals and schools,” Konneh indicated.
LINA