Liberia: Cummings Proposes Solutions to Food Crisis

With the level of food insecurity still facing Liberia, presidential hopeful Alexander B. Cummings of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) and head of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) has proposed ways to address Liberia’s food crisis.

“We have proposed a comprehensive strategy for an emergency provision of rice at a concessionary price, while we pursue an accelerated and sustained program of domestic production. The program will entail intensive training of Liberians at universities in rice producing states, provision of experts, investment and financing for equipment and machinery. The program must be private sector driven to succeed while the government provides assistance and extension services,” Cummings said.

According to him, the government has the responsibility to ensure that Liberians do not suffer for food, particularly rice; and the government should find a lasting solution to the rice problem.

“This situation cannot be resolved by resorting to tentative actions and panic reactions to shortages and crises as the Weah Government have been prone to do over the last five years,” he said.

The ANC leader made the disclosure in a press statement upon his return to Liberia after visits to Canada and the United States of America.

Cummings’ food security strategy proposal comes at a time the country has experienced a disturbing rice shortage on the market. Rice is Liberia’s staple food, but the country is yet to meet domestic supply. About 60 percent of the country’s rice is imported annually to ensure food security.

Though the food strategy is something for the government to adopt, the ANC expects to use it as part of its agenda for its food security program if given the chance to lead. Cummings said in a release that during his visits he had important meetings with Liberians, and global political, business, and educational leaders concerning the development of the country, especially the food security issue.

“I held very important meetings with Liberians and global political, business, and educational leaders concerning the development of our country. I spoke about the urgency to deal with the food insecurity situation and improved agricultural production in Liberia,” the release said.

Cummings stated in the release that there are plenty of databases for the government to tap into. 

“Liberia once hosted the headquarters of the West African Rice Development Association (WARDA), which together with our Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), developed high yield seeds. The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and other global institutions have also made commendable progress in the areas of rice production and other cash crops such as cocoa, coffee, cashew, etc.” 

The release from the ANC said that the government only needs to demonstrate seriousness in engaging these institutions to achieve its goals and cannot continue to play with the lives of the people by fooling them about fake shipments of rice.  Cummings further said that the Legislature must assert its oversight to ensure that millions of dollars allocated for rice subsidies are properly accounted for.

The government of Liberia apportioned 11 million United States dollars in the recast budget last fiscal year to subsidize rice import. But such an amount intended as a subsidy has become controversial. Members of the Legislature are still investigating how the amount was spent.

Cummings said in the release that the country is not poor but what is lacking is a competent and responsible government to make decisions that can improve the lives of the citizens.   

“Our country is not poor, and our people are not lazy. Our soil is fertile, and our weather is favorable to growing what we eat and to export the surplus. What we lack is determined, competent, serious and responsible leadership that will make the right decisions and investments in the productive sectors rather than spend most of the national budget on enriching and caring for five politicians, the President, the Vice President, the Speaker, the Pro-Temp and the Deputy Speaker, while the nation starves, hospitals are without beds and medicines and schools are struggling,” the release said.  

Regarding education and other areas of development, the ANC leader said that he remains engaged with education, manufacturing, and infrastructural development.

“We are engaged with international partners and industrialists who are prepared to invest in Liberia,” he said in the release. 

However, Cummings said that investors are concerned about the current climate of rampant corruption and abuses of power that have overtaken the Weah Administration. 

“These serious investors need a responsible and competent Liberian Government that can be trusted to stop the stealing, strengthen the justice system and improve accountability. As I have said many times before, our country is too rich for so many of our people to be so poor,” Cummings said. 

“This is why a Cummings Administration will stop the stealing, end impunity, improve accountability and guarantee the trust of the international community. We will do this because we need to end the suffering of the Liberian people, unite our country, grow the economy, provide opportunities for our youth, empowerment for women, and create decent-paying jobs for Liberians,” the release added. 

He said in the release that the cost of living is increasing every day for Liberians.

“This is why, for President Weah to cut people's pay while the costs of food, transportation, rent, hospital bills and school fees are only going up is wicked! As hard as people are trying, too many cannot find jobs, and those who are lucky to be working can barely care for their families because their salaries have been harmonized”. 

He said in the release that President Weah and his administration promised to create jobs but have failed to do so.  “Not only did they fail to keep their promise but they have created chances for themselves to steal from the Liberian people who are already suffering. No responsible government that cares for its people will do this to them.” 

The ANC leader added that drugs and crimes have taken over the streets and communities. 

“Proud Liberians are being forced to beg in a country that God has blessed with so much natural wealth. After five years, President Weah and his administration have no idea how to fix the problems they have made worse. 

“Now, as we prepare to end their failed leadership in 2023, they are conniving to create problems in the elections and undermine our hard-won democracy. We strongly warn them to desist and conduct themselves more responsibly,” the release added.