Districts to get K1m NADP funds

ONE million kina each from the K100 million national agriculture development programme (NADP) appropriations will be paid to the 89 district treasuries before the end of this month.
Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Paul Tiensten gave the assurance in parliament during the questions without notice session last Friday.
Tiensten was responding to questions by the member for Finschhafen, Theo Zurenuoc, who wanted to know why his district did not receive the NADP funds and asked when the funds would be paid.
He said the funds would be paid together with the district service improvement programme (DSIP) of K2 million each for the 89 districts.
Tiensten said earlier funds were paid into the provincial treasuries but that had been changed with all funds to be paid directly to the districts.
He said since 2007, the government had allocated K100 million each year for NADP, which was managed by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock.
He said the policy changed when his department took over and implemented the programme in 2009.
Following that, K100 million was parked in national planning while K200 million was given to the National Development Bank.
Tiensten said any district that had not received the funds would be given the funds.
Each district would also receive their K2 million DSIP funds this month.