The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Michael Makuei Lueth says that 200 of the 1000 recently imported tractors will be distributed to the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Last week the national television SSTV reported that President Salva Kiir ‘donated’ the tractors to the Ministry of Agriculture, while the Minister of Defense Kuol Manyang said the army pension fund paid for the tractors.
Now the information minister says not all the tractors will be distributed through the Agriculture Ministry but rather 200 will go to the Defense Minisry and another 50 to the Interior Ministry.
Speaking on Radio Miraya yesterday, Makuei disclosed the number of tractors to be allocated to different agriculture schemes, states and government institutions.
“Number one Aweil rice scheme is given 16, Renk rain fed mechanized scheme is given 50 tractors, Jebel Ladu rain feed mechanized schemes 16 tractors and all the ten states have been given 60 each. They are getting 600,” he said.
The minister continued: “In addition to the ten states, we have Pibor Administrative Area is given five tractors and Abyei Administrative Area is given 15 tractors. Total for the ten states and the two administrative areas is 620. Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs 200 tractors and Ministry of Interior 50 tractors.”
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1000 new tractors not in South Sudan budget (19 April)