IPNEWS: Several consumers of the newly bought rice by major Rice importer SWAT are raising concerns about the quality of rice.

Some Liberians speaking to local Journalists at the waterside, and Dula general markets expressed concern over the taste of the rice, especially the one which is bagged in the yellow sac of 50kg and 25kg respective.

One of the consumers told IPNEWS that the rice tastes very terrible and why was brought, but however, stated that Liberians were managing due to the scarcity of the commodity.

Sources have alleged that some government functionaries who were aware prior to the coming of the last consignment of 23,000 metric tons of rice of the situation are mute because any action to have stopped the importation would have undermined the government’s quest to have the commodity available in wake of the shortage.

It can be recalled that the country experienced a shortage of rice recently in mid-September and early October 2022, due to the government’s alleged failure to pay rice importers their subsidies. And shortly after the government made some payments to importers, one of the major importers, SWAT swiftly brought in a small consignment of the country’s staple food.

According to sources who are knowledgeable of the issue, the consignment brought into the country was hurriedly brought in from the neighboring Ivory Coast where it was allegedly rejected by consumers because of its low grade and quality and was purchased by SWAT for a low price.

SWAT allegedly used the scarcity of the country’s staple food to penetrate the commerce of Liberia with the bad product, according to one source. Other sources said the product was destined for disposal in the Ivory Coast before it was brought to Liberia. This has not been independently verified. Efforts to contact SWAT on the issue failed.

Efforts to contact SWAT or its representative has proven fruitless up to press time. Investigation continues.