Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah has vehemently rejected allegations that the Ministry of Agriculture is repackaging imported rice as locally produced rice and engaging in irregular cattle procurement practices, describing the claims as unfounded.
By Augustus D.R Bortue-augustusd.rbortue@frontpageafricaonline.com
Speaking to journalists, Minister Nuetah responded to allegations by Nimba County Electoral District #5 Representative Kortor Sehwongbay Kwagrue that the Ministry was importing rice from China and presenting it as Liberian-grown rice.
“We are not in the business of selling rice. Why should we be interested in repackaging rice for the public?” he questioned.
The Minister suggested that the allegations may have arisen from improvements in the quality and packaging of locally produced rice.
“The quality of the rice that our people produce, our processors, is equally as good as the imported rice,” he emphasized.
Minister Nuetah explained that the Ministry began purchasing paddy rice from local farmers after they repeatedly complained that they had no market for their produce.
The rice is processed and packaged locally, giving farmers a buyer while supporting Liberian rice processors.
He identified five Liberian rice brands: Gbedin Rice and Dan Rice from Nimba County; Selma Rice and Foya Queen from Lofa County; and I Love Liberian Rice, produced by CHAP in Montserrado County.
According to the Minister, Mohamed Kamara, a processor based in Foya, Lofa County, is among the suppliers contracted to process and package locally purchased rice.
He also disclosed that a major rice importer recently requested 1,000 bags of Liberian rice.
The Minister further revealed that the Ministry’s Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR-P) facilitated the provision of about 500,000 empty branded rice bags to support local rice processors and improve the packaging and marketing of Liberian rice.
To substantiate his explanation, Minister Nuetah offered journalists access to supply contracts and encouraged them to visit processing facilities and speak directly with farmers and suppliers.
Addressing separate allegations concerning the procurement of 200 cattle, the Minister denied having any personal or business relationship with the contractor.
“I don’t get involved with processes. The procurement director is there,” he stated, explaining that the bidding and evaluation were conducted through the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) system.
Minister Nuetah confirmed that cattle had been delivered to the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) and Grand Kru County.
He acknowledged that 24 animals died but said the contractor accepted responsibility for replacing them.
According to him, the supplier later delivered two additional batches of 40 cattle each to Grand Kru County, where county authorities received them.
He also denied allegations that cattle intended for Grand Kru County had been diverted to his wife’s family community.
Reaffirming his willingness to have the allegations independently examined, Minister Nuetah invited journalists to review procurement records and contact the Ministry’s suppliers.
“You can ask for our vendor registry. They have the contracts we signed this year. Take the contact information, call each and every one of them,” he stated.
The Minister maintained that the Ministry remains committed to supporting Liberian farmers, expanding domestic food production, and strengthening the country’s agricultural sector.
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