Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol revealed to the public that the government has procured 104 tractors ready to be distributed to the farmers across the country.
While inspecting the tractors in Juba, Akol revealed that procurement is inline with resolution of Economic cluster to boost food production in the country.
“This tractor will be delivered to them (Farmers) and we also want them to be committed so that we start tangible work in this season and now we are starting with 104 tractors” Minister Akol said.
“This is working the talk, this is what we have been advocating for, congratulations goes to His excellent Vice president and the chair of economic cluster for working the talk on agricultural investment” Yakani said.
Yakani however called for close monitoring to end corruption in the distribution of the tractors.
“We have seen similar tractors purchased and those practice end up as a saga, which is known as the tractor’s Saga. Because some people either sell or failed to be delivered to the destination” he said
“We hope these 104 tractors will not end up in similar manner. Where the are sold again, it can turn out to be a second tractors Saga” he added.
The Activist urged the government to ensure that the tractors reach the really farmers not political farmers.
“The distribution of this structures should go to rightful owners; these tractors should have a proper monitoring system where individual that are abusive of the trusted given to them be handle accountable” he said.
The activist called on the government to ensure availability of spare pares adding that without such the tractors may not achieve their intended purpose.
“Tractors are meaningless if they don’t have the spare parts tractors and meaningless if they are not given to the right owners” he said.
“This practice will be a waste of public Revenue if they are not put on action by rightful people in the rightful place, because some areas may not need to have this type of practice, and it will have a different type of structures. We hope that distribution of these tractors will be in a transparent manner and in a less corrupt manner” he said
Yakani appealed to Vice President for Economic Cluster and the Minister of Agriculture monitor the distribution and use of the tractors to avoid corruption.
“As a civil Society, we will be watching on the distribution of this structures, and our eyes will be watching what the use of this tractors by whoever will receive it” he said.
Yakani urged the government to double efforts in implementing the peace agreement adding that insecurity affected farming and movement of Agricultural products as well as other goods.