Probe on cotton seed scandal in final stages

 

INVESTIGATIONS into a scandal involving officials behind distribution of sub-standard cotton seeds and pesticides in the last farming season are on final stage, the National Assembly was told yesterday.

Upon completion of the investigations, all officials including distributors will face prosecution, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, Mr William Ole Nasha announced. 

 

He was answering the basic question by Mr Dotto Biteko (Bukombe-CCM) who sought to know steps the government was taking to ensure the same problem does not reoccur. Mr Biteko said cotton farmers in Geita Region were supplied with substandard seeds and fake pesticide thus making the farmers incur losses.

“A number of farmers suffered badly. They were provided with substandard seeds and fake insect killers. What do you tell these farmers and which steps are you taking to ensure this problem does not repeat,” he said.

The deputy minister said that after registering claims from farmers, the government directed Tropical Pesticides Research Institute to investigate the matter. 

As a result, Mr Ole Nasha said that it was found that some items were substandard and the government is currently tracing all people behind such blunder.

To ensure the same mix-up does not repeat in the 2016/2017 farming season, the deputy minister said the Cotton Development Trust Fund (CDTF) is working keenly to ensure it purchases seeds and pesticides from reliable suppliers.

Mr Ole Nasha added that the government will start producing cotton seeds on its own and distribute to farmers. Meanwhile, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, Dr Charles Tizeba, said the government has intensified war against dynamite fishing in the country.

He said authorities are now conducting continuous inspections and apprehend all fishermen applying illegal gears, calling on the general public to join hands with the government in the fight.

Dr Tizeba was responding to Mr Joseph Kasheku (Geita Rural-CCM) who questioned why the government was only dealing with fishermen using illegal fishing gears while suppliers, distributors and sellers were left untouched.