The Farming Study Group (FSG) Director, Remigio Laka Vieira, calls for an investigation to be conducted to five containers of full of rotten potato seeds found at the Dili Port.
According to Director Vieira this represents a waste of public money at a time some farmers are struggling to find seeds to plant.
“This situation needs a serious investigation. We cannot just buy seeds and then let them go to waste,” said FSG Director Vieira via telephone.
He said the budget allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAP) for buying seeds totaled $3 Million.
He added some seeds have been bought and sent to the districts. Seed types include corn, rice, watercress and tomato. The project is being implemented by Company Fini Ba Moris.
Director Vieira said also the government does not actually need to buy seeds internationally because these seeds are available in-country.
MP Brigida Antonia Correia, from Commission D (Economy and Development) lamented the waste of five containers containing seeds.
“I still remember when we held discussions about a budget allocation of $3 Million for buying the seeds. But reality now shows us we have five containers filled with rotten potato seeds.”
According to the MP, Commission D obtained information from the Ministry of Agriculture the seeds bought totaled 170 ton costing $525,000.
The MP suspects the seeds were left to rot at the Dili Port because of a highly bureaucracy Customs system that caused delays resulting in five containers of potato seeds going to waste.
Meanwhile, MP Virgnia Ana Belo expressed her disappointment with the waste of seeds.
“We went to the port to check on the spoilt and rotten seeds. The smell was really bad, so much so we could have fainted,” said MP Belo.
The MP said many containers filled with produce go to waste. She also urged careful attention be given during the State Budget 2014 debate to arguments for buying more seeds.
