Eleven broken down tractors have not been returned to service in Maliana despite money being allocated for their repair in last year’s budget.
Member of Parliament (MP) Felisberto Guterres asked Agriculture and Fisheries minister Mariano Asanami Sabino why the repairs had not been carried out.
“The minister needs to explain about where this money has gone,” MP Guterres said in National Parliament.
MP Guterres, who sits on commission D (for the economy and development) said the Maliana sub-district regional director had brought up the issue during commission D’s monitoring project in the area.
Minister Asanami Sabino acknowledged the issue and said the maintenance was being carried out.
“I went to see directly and the process of maintenance is running,” he said.
He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries had sent 32 Kubota, Agrindo and Massey Ferguson tractors to assist farmers in Maliana.
Of that number, 21 were functional and 11 were out of service, he said.
