A special government initiative to combat the rising cost of living has seen a surge in demand for rice in Cameroon’s economic capital. Over 6,000 bags of rice have been sold in just four days at a special market set up in Douala.

The government has been selling rice at a subsidized price of 15,000 CFA francs per 50kg bag, leading to long queues and a rapid depletion of stocks. The initiative, which has been particularly popular in the Littoral region, is aimed at making essential commodities more affordable for ordinary Cameroonians.

“The response from the public has been overwhelming,” said Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, Minister of Trade. “We’ve seen a significant increase in sales day by day, proving that there is a real need for such measures.”

To meet the high demand, the government has decided to expand the initiative to other districts in Douala. Officials have assured the public that there are sufficient stocks to meet the demand, despite the high volume of sales.

However, the heavy reliance on rice imports has been a cause for concern. Cameroon imports a significant portion of its rice consumption, with imports increasing by over 59,000 tonnes in the first half of 2021 alone. This highlights the need for the country to boost its domestic rice production to reduce its dependence on imports.

The success of this initiative has demonstrated the government’s commitment to addressing the issue of rising living costs and ensuring that essential commodities are accessible to all Cameroonians.