MONROVIA, The Government of Liberia has planned to reduce the importation of the Country’s staple food, rice, under the ARREST Policy on Agriculture.

The Government said the Agriculture Ministry is working out modalities to provide rice farmers the necessary support to boost rice production, following a Presidential mandate.

In a BBC interview over the weekend, President Joseph Boakai noted that rice remains the number one priority commodity of the Government.

President Boakai said: “If the need arises, the similar strategy used to stop the importation of poultry in the 1980s will be reviewed and implemented to reduce rice importation.

The Liberian Chief Executive said:” For the first six years, I will endeavor to reduce rice importation to at least thirty percent.”