Rice Sellers Defy Rain to Get Supplies
Published on: September 24, 2022.
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It appears that the importers’ abrupt increase in the price of long-grain parboiled rice is still far from being handled.
On September 22, hundreds of people, including wholesalers, were spotted waiting in queues to purchase goods at the Fouani Brothers compound under a heavy downpour.
“I slept here just to get rice but up to now I have not gotten a bag or entry in the compound. We are living at the mercy of importers. This is heartless and inhumane to us as ordinary Liberians,” said Martin Sackie.
Sackie is one of the thousands of wholesalers having trouble getting enough supply from importers, which is causing them to raise the cost of their rice each bag. Retailers paid US$13.00 for a bag of 25kg long-grain, 25kg parboiled rice, which they then sold for US$14.00 (L$2,200), as they were not responsible for delivering the rice to their establishments. Parboiled rice is now priced at US$18.50 (L$2,600), nevertheless.
“I have been here in the rain for more than eight hours, and there is no sign that I will get rice,” said Abraham Williams, another wholesaler. “Government should immediately intervene to help us.”
