Since December, a promotional sales operation of basic necessities has been taking place. Among these, broken rice which is controversial.
The broken rice sold by the Cameroonian government at 15,000F per 50Kg bag since December by the government is controversial. While the government through the Ministry of Commerce boasted of the success of this operation and the enthusiasm of the population for these promotions, voices were raised to denounce the quality of this rice.
“The government boasts of selling Big Joe broken rice to Cameroonians. So I went to read a little about the characteristics of this type of rice. I share with you, everyone should draw their own conclusions,” emphasizes Dr. Albert Ze on his page. In his research, it is noted, “Broken rice is damaged white rice, broken during processing. During processing, grain fragments, whose length does not exceed three-quarters of the average length of the whole grain, are separated from the white rice, the shape of which remains intact. This is a rice break. A grain of broken rice has a low fiber texture and a low level of nutrients, while retaining its high energy level. Broken rice contains more grain fragments in the grain. This type of rice is of lower quality and is generally used for baby formula, cereals, pet food, rice wine and rice flour, as well as pre-packaged or canned foods.”
In addition, a few years ago, researchers from the Africa Rice Center issued an alert on certain Asian countries that send rice of lower quality than normal to Africa. Markets presented as being “undemanding”, and whose health consequences could be felt.
Government release
“In its concern to ensure the well-being of the population and to support the purchasing power of consumers, especially those most exposed to erratic and speculative fluctuations in the prices of consumer goods, which spare no country, or almost, in the world, the Government of the Republic has initiated, faithful to its vocation and its missions, and in the continuity of what has been practiced for many years, in particular during festive periods, a long-term promotional sales campaign for dedicated products which, as is the objective, has met with great popular success, to the great displeasure of the inveterate detractors of any initiative of the Public Authorities, who have targeted, in this case, a certain rice, a staple food of our populations, whose promoter decided, without constraint or partisan spirit, to support consumers by selling the product at a price within the reach of all Cameroonians”.
“The Government wishes to inform everyone that this rice, imported regularly and landed at the Port of Kribi, has all the required documentation in this area, both in terms of product quality and its compliance with the standard. It can therefore, on this basis, be consumed with complete peace of mind”. “It is up to its promoter to take all necessary legal action against the detractors of said product and to provide, at the first request, the documents in his possession attesting to the quality of the product and its strict compliance with the requirements of the laws and regulations in force”. Beyond all, some Cameroonians have already started reselling this rice at the price of 26,000F.
Journal du Cameroun
