Low funding to Green Belt Initiative worries Cisanet
Civil Society Agriculture Network (Cisanet) has expressed shock at the low levels of funding to the Green Belt Initiative (GBI), saying there is no corresponding action to rhetoric on the revival of the initiative.
Cisanet concern comes amid confirmed reports that Treasury has only disbursed K450 million of the K2 billion, which Parliament approved in the 2014/15 fiscal year. This is less than 25 percent with only four months remaining in the fiscal year.
Cisanet national director Tamani Nkhono-Mvula has appealed to government to disburse funding to operationalise the initiative.
“We are deeply concerned that rhetoric is not matching action. Government should make sure that money is disbursed timely and adequately to finance operations at the Green Belt Initiative secretariat,” said Nkhono-Mvula.
He stated that the initiative needs at least K10 billion every year to operationalisation it.
GBI acting national coordinator Henrie Njoloma conceded that the challenges of inadequate funding are resulting in slow progress.
“The implication is that we cannot achieve what we had planned to do. We are yet to hire a consultant to plant sugar cane in nurseries,” said Njoloma.
The secretariat has paid K173 million (US$384 444) to the contractor who is owed K1.2 billion (US$2.7million). At least K135 million (US$300 000) was paid to Escom.
However, the contractor has refused to mobilise equipment to the site until paid.
“Much of the work is done and further delay is costly. There is need to profile the importance of having this irrigation site completed.
“Since the factory construction is under way with projection to be complete by July 2015, further delay at the farm will delay start of operations at the factory,” he said.
The sugar factory is expected to be completed by July this year.
Construction work of irrigation scheme is estimated to be 85 percent complete. Work done at the site includes construction of pump house, pipeline installation and centre pivot installation.
