K10mil price subsidy for potato farmers

POTATO farmers in Southern Highlands will benefit from a K10 million price subsidy provided by the provincial government.
Governor William Powi told the provincial assembly on Tuesday that the recently launched potato project was an initiative of the provincial government and the drop in price was a discouragement to farmers.
“To support this important agricultural activity and small-medium enterprises (SMEs), another K10 million has been made to establish 30 agribusiness groups in the 20 local level governments (LLGs) in the five districts,” he said.
“Each LLG will have an agribusiness group and we will look at dividing some of the bigger wards to reach 30.”
Powi said there were allegations of money being misused and projects not completed by some groups.
He said it was always disappointing to see left uncompleted and contractors walking away with huge sums of money.
“I do not want that to happen and I believe people will agree to have a company representing them involved in business activities and carrying out quality work that will later support them financially,” he said.
“Those individual business groups that have been sucking money will be sidelined.
“The Government’s SME empowerment plan is meant for the people.”
Powi has been in contact with the 20 LLG presidents encouraging the people to take part in the agricultural activity.