Agricultural equipment worth more than ETB 3.4 billion have been found at an Adama Agricultural Machinery Production Industry that was supposed to be distributed to farmers in the region according to reports from the Revenues, Budget, and Finance Committee of the House of People’s Representatives.
Aside from the machinery, the manufacturing company also reportedly sold goods worth more than ETB 1.9 billion on credit over the past seven years; the amount credited is yet to be paid back.
The combination of these two factors has been credited as contributing significantly to the retardation of the development of the region’s agricultural efforts as well as being a drain on the economic resources of the region.
The committee’s Field Operations Team Leader Ayalew Ayezo said that during their investigation of the premises, his team also found several imported agricultural tractors that have been unused for years due to neglect and lack of spare parts. Despite these discouraging findings, however, Ayalew also expressed confidence in mitigating the damage done so far and affirmed his committee’s willingness to assist the industry.
The Industry’s Manager, Deriba Hunde explains that the inefficiency, at least in terms of machinery, was caused due to the purchase of machines that are not suitable for the landscape of the area, and in terms of the tractors was caused by the purchase of low quality spare parts.