About 17 out of 33 trucks loaded with subsidized food arrived in South Sudan’s capital Juba Saturday as part of a government scheme to control skyrocketing food prices.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Moses Hassan Tiel, Minister of Trade and Investment, said they received 17 trucks carrying 14 tonnes of maize flour and beans, while more are on their way.

“We don’t want to hear previous stories in which people said we have brought 100 trucks and they only show two or three, so this is the way to tell the public about what we are doing,” said Hassan.

The minister further said they have already identified 31 cooperative shops in Gumbo Sherikat, Gudele and Munuki areas, where the subsidized food would be sold to citizens at reasonable prices.

He pointed out that the government contracted Ramciel Company to supply the food.

For his part, George Luwate Alfred, representative of Ramciel Company, said they are ready to work with the government to supply food in the country.

The company used a loan of 1 million dollars to buy the food to control soaring prices of food items at the market.