The National Rice Federation, which encompasses organizations within the agriculture sub-sectors of the national economy Thursday issued a press release expressing serious concern over the establishment of the Rice Committee by the President of Liberia, to the exclusion of the National Rice Federation of Liberia (NRFL) and the Central Agriculture Research Institution (CARI).
The group said  it finds it incomprehensible for the government of Liberia to be discussing the issue of rice in Liberia, without involving these Institutions who are major stakeholders in the rice Sector in the country.
Inclusion of agriculture related organization on the committee will increase the probability of success for the committee in finding a permanent solution to the Rice crisis facing Liberia, the federation said.
It urged the Government of Liberia to urgently reconsider the composition of the Rice Committee, to include the National Rice Federation of Liberia and the Central Agriculture Research Institution.
The newly formed Committee on Rice is tasked with a number of key objectives, including the formulation of policies to guarantee a consistent and steady supply of rice in Liberia. According to a statement released by the office of the President, the committee will work towards developing strategies to boost local rice production, reduce import dependency, and promote Liberian participation in the importation and distribution of rice across the nation.
One of the significant responsibilities of the committee is to devise a plan for the effective reactivation and management of the Rice Stabilization Fund, aimed at stabilizing rice prices in the market. Â The fund was first introduced in the 1970s during the administration of President William Richard Tolbert.
The committee will also establish a comprehensive database on rice, conduct price comparisons with major rice-producing countries, and assess the quality of rice grades available in the market.
