THE Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Tefo Mapesela has encouraged Basotho farmers who are interested in government tractors to buy them in a bid to promote farming.
business
April 5, 2021
STAFF REPORTER
2 min read
Mapesela urges farmers to buy govt tractors
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Tefo Mapesela
He urged farmers who have already bought the equipment to utilise it productively in order to combat poverty and hunger.
Mr Mapesela further encouraged those who wish to purchase the tractors to go ahead in spite of a directive from the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) that is stopping the ministry from selling the said tractors.
The anti-corruption outfit has issued the order in respect of an ongoing investigation in which some cabinet ministers are being accused of illegally buying some of the tractors.
But Mr Mapesela said his ministry works directly with farmers and not politicians, adding that the DCEO does not have the right to stop the ministry from doing its work.
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“The DCEO should do its job and stop being utilised by politicians who want to push their agenda,” he warned.
Media reports have quoted the minister as saying that the initiative to sell the tractors to Basotho farmers is a subsidy aimed at helping the farmers to buy tractors at a reasonable price of M500 000 each.
Mr Mapesela further showed that less than 20 tractors out of a total of 90 have already been purchased.
“There are more which are still available,” he also said.
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