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Friday, 08 August 2008
A day after the government rolled out its short term plan to import thousands of tonnes of cheap fertiliser, officials at the Ministry of Agriculture are coming under pressure to answer troubling questions about where it will source the commodity.
The government is yet to disclose where it will be getting over 25,000 tonnes of various fertiliser blends that are earmarked to be shipped in by year's end.
Under pressure by local farmers to do something about the runaway fertiliser prices the government Thursday announced that three hundred million dollars has been set aside to import the first tranche of the vital commodity in September.
However, the government's plan has unfolded amid concerns that tainted fertiliser shipments could be destined for Jamaica.
RJR News has learnt that large quantities of fertiliser might be coming from the northern Ukrainian city of Chernobyl, an infamous area that was evacuated in 1986 as a result of a major nuclear disaster.
Opposition spokesman on Agriculture Roger Clarke says he has been getting these reports and has advised caution.
He says the government is yet to disclose exactly where the product will originate.
However Agriculture Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton told RJR News that the government is in discussions with various suppliers.
This is aside from Venezuela, which has already agreed to provide Urea, a principal component of fertiliser at a forty percent discount.
When quizzed about these sources, Dr. Tufton was quick to offer the reassurance that the government will not import contaminated fertilisers.
And the list of questions following the government's announcement that it will import fertiliser, continues to grow.
The government says it will pass on to the island's sole manufacturer, a 40% discount offered by Venezuela on the main ingredient used in making fertiliser.
This was on condition that the company pass on these savings to the farmers.
However, the company's General Manager, John Allen says he is not privy to the details of such an arrangement.
"Apart from the information that there is going to be a 40% reduction, I have no idea of what any specific agreement is as to the conditions under which this 40% is applicable. My understanding is that the reduction has to do with a larger volume," said Mr. Allen.
A day after the government rolled out its short term plan to import thousands of tonnes of cheap fertiliser, officials at the Ministry of Agriculture are coming under pressure to answer troubling questions about where it will source the commodity.
The government is yet to disclose where it will be getting over 25,000 tonnes of various fertiliser blends that are earmarked to be shipped in by year's end.
Under pressure by local farmers to do something about the runaway fertiliser prices the government Thursday announced that three hundred million dollars has been set aside to import the first tranche of the vital commodity in September.
However, the government's plan has unfolded amid concerns that tainted fertiliser shipments could be destined for Jamaica.
RJR News has learnt that large quantities of fertiliser might be coming from the northern Ukrainian city of Chernobyl, an infamous area that was evacuated in 1986 as a result of a major nuclear disaster.
Opposition spokesman on Agriculture Roger Clarke says he has been getting these reports and has advised caution.
He says the government is yet to disclose exactly where the product will originate.
However Agriculture Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton told RJR News that the government is in discussions with various suppliers.
This is aside from Venezuela, which has already agreed to provide Urea, a principal component of fertiliser at a forty percent discount.
When quizzed about these sources, Dr. Tufton was quick to offer the reassurance that the government will not import contaminated fertilisers.
And the list of questions following the government's announcement that it will import fertiliser, continues to grow.
The government says it will pass on to the island's sole manufacturer, a 40% discount offered by Venezuela on the main ingredient used in making fertiliser.
This was on condition that the company pass on these savings to the farmers.
However, the company's General Manager, John Allen says he is not privy to the details of such an arrangement.
"Apart from the information that there is going to be a 40% reduction, I have no idea of what any specific agreement is as to the conditions under which this 40% is applicable. My understanding is that the reduction has to do with a larger volume," said Mr. Allen.