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By Justice Sam And MB Ceesay, Banjul

Thousands of Gambians risked starving to death, as rice the nation’s main staple food is currently out of stock, the Freedom Newspaper, can authoritatively report. There is a massive scarcity of rice in The Gambia. Major importers have warned about a potential food shortage in months ahead. The Government is apparently mute over the rice shortage, which is likely to lead to social unrest,  if not tackled immediately. Many poverty stricken families are worried about the current state of affairs, befalling the tiny West African country.

Importers attributed the rice shortage to numerous factors. For example, they said the Government is not willing to accommodate liberal business environment into the country. That, they the importers were being forced to reduce prices of basic commodities, which led to the current rice shortage. That, it  would be suicidal for them to import rice into the country, under such an unpredictable business climate.   

The business community said the price for rice had gone up at the world market and it would be unfair for The Gambian Government to determine the cost of their imported goods. “ We have agreed unanimously not to import rice from now on. Since the arrival of the last consignment of rice, no importation had been made to that effect. We feel sorry for The Gambian consumers. Our business interest supersedes the interest of the President. No more rice importation, unless they create the necessary frameworks to guarantee our business interest.” Said a local importer in Banjul.

A local businessman Malick  Jallow said when he showed up in Banjul to buy one hundred bags of rice, for his store,  to his chagrin and utter dismay, there was no rice found in the City. “ Most of the shops, I visited said they have limited rice on stock. Some of the shops have increased the cost for bag of rice, as a result of the rice shortage. We are very worried by these developments. This is a country, where many homes use rice for consumption. If there is rice shortages, there is bound to be disaster.” Said Mr. Jallow.

The Chamber of Commerce, which is responsible for the private sector, has been quiet over the rice shortage. It fails to educate citizens about what needs to be done to overcome the rice shortage.

Former GRTS Managing Director, Tombong Saidy in a piece sent to the Point Newspaper called on Gambians to change their eating habits, due to the rice shortage hitting the world.

 “There is an impending rice crisis in the making world wide and the peoples of Haiti, Bangladesh, Philippines have already began feeling the pinch of this world crisis. Rice is the staple food for billions of people, particularly the poorest people in the world. Majority of the peoples of , , Asia in General, the Middle East and consume rice as their main staple food. In The Gambia, rice is it. The majority of Gambians find it extremely difficult not to consume rice for 24 hours and this is demonstrated by the amount of rice imported in this country annually.” Said Mr. Saidy. AfricaIndiaChina

Saidy says the rice shortage should be concerned to all and sundry. He therefore calls for early action to tackle the problem. “The being a major consumer and importer of rice needs to react on time to ameliorate and soften the blow of the impending rice crisis. The like most countries in the world allows market forces to determine the supply, demand and price of rice, however, as the saying goes “desperate situation demands desperate measures”, the government, private sector and the consumers should act immediately in preparation of this inevitable shortage of rice that is facing the world. The prices of foodstuff have increased drastically throughout the world and Gambians are already feeling it despite the strengthening Dalasi. There should be a multi-facetted and coordinated actions by all stakeholders and the government should take the lead.”

Sources close to the Department of Trade and Employment said the nations import cover had fallen drastically in the recent time. Sources attributed this dismal trend to what they call “ the ailing business climate in this country.” Sources said many importers are not willing to engage in risky business ventures. “ Many importers are employing watch and see situation. They are not convinced that the current trend might yield any positive results for them Government. Despite the tax waivers extended to them by Government, they are bid apprehensive about the situation.” Said an official of the Trade  Ministry.

Local rice consumers are calling on the Government to find a lasting solution to the rice shortage. “ We are appealing to the President to use his office and address the problem. The Secretary of State for Trade Kolley is just sleeping out there. He is out of touch with the realities on the ground. We are starving to death due to the high prices of commodities. We have ceased to eat rice since the beginning of March. We relied on the available coos to feed our families. The President needs to intervene.” Said Fabakry Ceesay.

Observers have warned over a potential food crisis in The Gambia in months ahead. The Government is seemingly broke to order rice and other basic commodities into the country. The private sector,  which has been instrumental in meeting the needs of the growing consumer demand, had ceased importing rice into the country.