The Agriculture committee of Parliament has alleged that a sum of 30 billion Kwacha meant for Affordable Input Program has vanished at the ministry of Agriculture, as there is no clear sight to this year’s Input Program.
Sameer Suleman, Chairperson of the Committee on Tuesday, said the committee is well informed that the ministry has been duped through a dubious deal with a United Kingdom fertilizer company.
Suleman said is it sad that the ministry has decided to be quite on the matter, despite being questioned.
Suleman said it is unfortunate, that people have already started preparing their fields without any hope of fertilizer as the country doesn’t even know how much fertilizer has been brought in from the 109 billion kwacha that was allocated for AIP.
Meanwhile, the committee has ordered National Food Reserve Agency – NFRA to move the remaining 30,000 metric tons of Maize from ADMARC, saying with the situation at ADMARC the maize is not safe.
This statement also follows an allegation that 18 trucks of maize have disappeared at ADMARC.
Meanwhile, Brenda Kayongo, Chief Executive Officer for NFRA said body has already started moving the maize from ADMARC and 700 million kwacha has in the meantime been allocated for the exercise.
However, Gracian Lungu, Spokesperson in the ministry of agriculture has expressed ignorance on the allegation, saying the Committee has to write the ministry on the issue for the ministry to follow up.
