PPDA Nod to 87 Companies to Supply Fertilizer Under AIP

As the rainy season is fast approaching, signaling the beginning of a farming season, farming activities have commenced in all sectors involved.

Now, the Office of Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority PPDA has given no objection to companies that have been contracted to supply fertilizer under the Affordable Input Program propelled by the Tonse Alliance administration.

Zodiak has information that 167 companies expressed interest to supply fertilizer but PPDA has given no objection to 87 companies to supply 480, 000 (metric) tons of fertilizer at a cost of 102.6 billion kwacha.

PPDA Director-General Elias Hausi confirmed to us that his office has cleared 87 companies after thorough scrutiny since August 24 when they presented bids for the contract.

“We have issued no objection to 87 companies after a thorough scrutiny of all the requirements. We carried our role as required by the law” said Hausi

Agricultural expert, Lonjezo Masikini has since cautioned government to attach a timeline to suppliers of the farm inputs and possible penalties if they fail to meet the terms of the contract.

“There is a need for some conditions to be attached to these companies that when they fail to meet the contractual agreements they should be penalized. That would force the companies to meet the contractual agreements” said Masikini.

In the 2020/2021 budget presented in parliament by Finance Minister Felix Mlusu last week, government has allocated 162 billion kwacha to AIP which is targeting 4.2 million farming households.

Mlusu indicated that government will employ the use of electronic systems when qualifying a beneficiary to stamp out ghost beneficiaries and other anomalies.

 

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Last modified on Monday, 14/09/2020

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