S. Sudan withholds distribution of tractors over funding

May 22, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan said it will not distribute tractors purchased to be used in the current planting season to bolster food production due to lack of funds.

This then implies that the purchased tractors will not be utilised until funds are secured to help facilitate at least 22 centers across the country.

The country’s agriculture minister, Beda Machar told the national assembly on Wednesday that his ministry will have to establish 22 mechanical centers in the country for the 1000 tractors.

“The process of distributing the tractors will not begin until after the 22 mechanical centers are ready. The process of establishing centers will be in phases. Phase one entails establishing 22 centers that is two for each state and one center each for the two administration areas,” Machar told parliamentarians.

Establishing the 22 centers, he said, would cost the nation 39,887,443 SSP.

“Per center this is 1,813,065 SSP so the approximate 40 million SSP is not an amount to facilitate only on center, it is only for phase one, to assist in establishing centers all over the country including in Abyei and Greater Pibor Administrative Area” said Machar.

On Tuesday, members of South Sudan’s national legislative assembly queried the purchase and the recent distribution of tractors in the country on grounds that the process was not carried out in accordance with institutional norms and procedures.

(ST)