The Government of Japan on, Tuesday October 1, 2013, officially turned over to the Government and People of Liberia a consignment of 12,270metric tons of rice as part of the Japanese Food AID Monetization Program at a program held on the premises of United Commodities International (UCI) on Bushrod Island geared toward funding and support to developmental initiatives of Liberia.

The Japanese Food AID Program which was started in 2003, has over the years provided direct support to various projects as a mean to impact the Liberian society. The current consignment of rice, which is being managed by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, addresses the needs of rural and hard to access areas to improve Liberia’s food security.   

Included in the program was Madame Florence Chenoweth, Minister of Agriculture, Madame Candace B. Eastman, Deputy Minister for Commerce & Industry, Dr. Yoshihiko Higuchi, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan, Accra, Ghana and Hon. Geraldine Doe Sheriff, Senate Committee on Commerce & Industry, and members of the Business Community.

Madame Eastman in her address recounted the numbers of programs being supported by the Japanese Food AID Program and further expressed the Ministry of Commerce & Industry’s full commitment to the implementation of the provision of the Food Aid Program.

The Minister of Agriculture highlighted that the food security situation in Liberia has seen some improvements since 2006 when the results from the first Comprehensive Food Security and Nutrition Survey (CFS&NS) showed that the country was 49% food insecure.  In 2008, the food insecurity rate was 49% in 2010, the rate reduced to 41% and the recent survey conducted in 2012 showed that 36% of the Liberian population is food insecure. Nevertheless, the mal-nutrition situation in the country remains a major concern.

Hon. Doe-Sheriff, Senate Co-Chair Committee on Commerce lauded the Government of Japan for its continuous support to the Government of Liberia’s development agenda and spoke of the Senate cooperation in working with the relevant Ministries and Agencies aimed at making the program beneficial to the Liberian society.   

The rice which is to be monetized under the Japanese Food Aid Monetization Program will be sold on the local market at affordable prices by Fouta Corporation, United Commodities International (UCI) and Supply West Africa Trading (SWAT) under contract with the Government of Liberia through a competitive bidding process.

In closing, Dr. Yoshihiko Higuchi, First Secretary at the Embassy of Japan, in Ghana lauded the Government and people of Liberia for the proper management of the Food Aid Program since its inception and spoke of his government’s full commitment. Dr. Higuchi also expressed his thanks and appreciation to the responsible parties for properly implementing programs approved under the monetization initiative and that the current status and implementation be maintained.