Kombuk explains pay out

By PETER ESILA
DEPARTMENT of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) secretary Daniel Kombuk says all funds are supposed to be disbursed under the DAL’s directive.
Kombuk provided a list of 44 farmers and 15 provincial and district arms that received funding from April 20 to June 19 as opposed to a list circulated on social media.
He said the farmers were recommended by the agriculture price support and intervention team.
Minister John Simon, when asked yesterday about the proper disbursement of the funds to all districts and the channels according to the Loloata Accord 2020, said a press statement would be released this afternoon.
It is understood that some MPs were upset about how the funds were disbursed as it was supposed to be for districts in terms of agriculture assistance, but, were, however, disbursed only under the DALs directive.
“The price support and intervention team visit LLGs, districts and provinces, and documents all, sees who is doing what and makes recommendations to my office for funding,” Kombuk said.
“DAL’s alignment plan is in line with MTDP 3 (medium term development plan) and we will soon launch the corporate plan to guide us.
“The commodity price support and intervention programme, is a great initiative by the Government to enable farmers in the rural areas to take part and increase production to sustain our domestic demand and for our export.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister James Marape says the 2021 agriculture public investment programme budget was to be used for programme funding and not a discretionary component by Government departments.
Marape issued the warning in response to reports on the alleged misuse of PIP funds.
Marape has instructed ministers for Treasury and Finance to intervene and determine if DAL had complied with formal instructions and warrant authorities totaling K24 million issued to them.