Rice Crises - more support coming from China

On a one-day stopover in Beijing, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, en route to Japan, has secured additional Chinese support to combat the global increases in food prices. During discussions Sunday with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, Zhang Yesui, President Johnson Sirleaf was informed that China will provide fertilizers, pesticides and seeds by July this year to help Liberia in its agriculture program. In addition, Mr. Zhang said Chinese agricultural experts will be sent to Liberia during the dry season to help teach Liberian farmers modern farming methods. As part of the short-term measures to avert the possible effects of a cutback in rice exports, the Chinese Foreign Ministry official said his Government has instructed the China Oil and Food Corporation to work with Liberia in helping the country secure more stockpiles of rice, says an Executive Mansion dispatch from Beijing. allafrica.com