(TIMES) Magande disowns Ministry of Agriculture
Magande disowns Ministry of AgricultureBy Times Reporter
FINANCE and National Planning Minister, Ng’andu Magande says his ministry has given the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives more than K200 billion and that claims that it was yet to release funds to pay fertiliser suppliers are not true.
Mr Magande explained the budgetary allocation for the ministry this year was K150 billion which had since been released and that the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives further asked for more K34 billion under the supplementary estimates which was also released.
Mr Magande in an interview in Lusaka yesterday said another K20 billion was given to the ministry after they asked for the funds to resolve some problems they had, bringing the total to K204 billion.
The minister was reacting to the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives which was quoted as having said the Ministry of Finance and National Planning was yet to release funds to enable it pay the two fertiliser distribution firms - Omnia and Nyiombo.
As far as the Ministry of Finance and National Planning was concerned, there was no outstanding payment for the Ministry of Agriculture and co-operatives and that reports that it had not been funded were not true.
“As far as the ministry was concerned there is no outstanding payment for the Ministry of Agriculture because to date K204 billion has been given to them. If I may ask, how much money is needed to pay the suppliers of fertiliser?” he asked.
When contacted, Agriculture and Co-operatives deputy Minister Daniel Kalenga referred queries to Permanent Secretary, Sam Mundia who refused to comment.
Early this week, Agriculture and Cooperative deputy Minister Albert Mulonga appealed to the Omnia and Nyiombo companies to lift the suspension of fertiliser distribution as it was scouting for K30 billion owed to them.
Mr Mulonga said Government was committed to clearing the debt and that the firms should allow the small-scale farmers to access the commodity under the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP).
Labels: DANIEL KALENGA, FERTILIZER, FSP, MAGANDE, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, SAM MUNDIA
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