In a startling disclosure, it has come to light that a substantial amount of Rs 1.3 billion was disbursed to a Chinese company for the procurement of organic fertilizers, despite the products failing crucial tests and lacking the necessary approvals from the Director General of Agriculture.
This ill-fated transaction has plunged the agriculture sector into dismay, prompting serious questions about accountability and the due diligence process.
The revelation stems from the Auditor General’s annual report for 2022, exposing a grave oversight in the import of 96,000 metric tons of organic fertilizer. Intended for utilization across 500,000 hectares in the 2021/2022 Maha season, the import took place without securing the mandatory Phytosanitary certificate and import permit, as stipulated by the Plant Protection Act No.35 of 1999.
This lapse not only contravenes regulatory procedures but also poses a significant threat to the agricultural output for the season.
The report highlights that the National Plant Quarantine sample tests, a crucial step in ensuring the safety and efficacy of imported agricultural inputs, failed for the Chinese organic fertilizer in question. Despite these alarming red flags, the fertilizer was imported, resulting in a staggering financial loss of Rs 1,383 million, with no discernible benefits to the farming community.
Officials involved in approving the import without adhering to established protocols are now under scrutiny. This incident has ignited concerns regarding the transparency and efficiency of the procurement process for agricultural inputs, raising doubts about the efficacy of the overall system.
