Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences

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Factors Affecting Liberia’s Imported Rice Volumes across Three Different Periods
(Makerere University, 2016) Billy, Abraham; Bonabana-Wabbi, Jackline; Lapaka Odong, Thomas
The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors that affect Liberia’s rice importation during the pre-war, war and postwar period. Design/methodology/approach – The study employs two stage least squares (2SLS) multiple regression analysis by modelling secondary annual time series data on Liberia’s agriculture subsector from 1979 to 2011. Findings – The study finds income, interest rate and inflation rate as factors affecting the volumes of imported rice; whereas, the exchange rate, population and imported rice price are found to have insignificant effects on rice imports. Additionally, Cassava is seen to have a strong negative significant relationship with imported rice. Practical implications – The short-term government food security strategies of tariff waiver on imported rice and import subsidies that encourage rice imports should be revised to prioritizing and upgrading cassava production as a substitute commodity to imported rice. Originality/value – cassava production and consumption could serve as important substitute to imported rice.