South Sudan's Minister of Agriculture Beda Machar yesterday declined to reveal the total expenditure for 1000 tractors imported at the initiative of President Salva Kiir, who 'donated' them to the agriculture ministry at a ceremony held at the army headquarters yesterday.

“The total number of the tractors that had been provided by the president as he pledged last year when Food Security Council was launched... and now we have got 1000 pieces of tractors are available in the Republic of South Sudan,” the minister said.

The minister was asked how much it cost the government to buy these 1000 tractors. He refused to say, commenting that the cost was "not yet established." But he revealed that the government would likely continue to pay the supplier for spare parts.

Beda said, “The total cost is not yet established and this is not the issue now, we are going to establish with the provider and to look into it that these tractors are not only the end when you buy something and you go. This is a continuous process between the provider and the benefiter who is the Ministry of Agriculture.”

“It will be continuous issue because parts are still not complete payment, parts are still away and parts are coming because we are going to rehabilitate these tractors from the last two to three years,” the minister added.  

Related: 

Officials unclear about source of funds for Kiir's 1000 tractors (17 April)

Salva Kiir 'donates' 1000 tractors (17 April)