A Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Internal Audit Report has highlighted allegations that fertiliser donated by the Kingdom of Morocco for Jamaican farmers was being sold at a private farm store in St. Catherine in August 2023.
The Auditor General's report, tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, indicated that the internal audit with the damning allegations of the free fertiliser being sold was reportedly sent to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dermon Spence.
In response, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) told auditors from the Auditor General's Department that the Permanent Secretary referred the matter to the Board for further investigation.
But Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis said RADA did not provide any evidence to confirm that further action was taken.
The audit also identified instances where bags of fertiliser were not distributed in accordance with the approved distribution listing.
For instance, from shipments in 2019 and 2022, RADA distributed 210 bags of fertiliser to two people and two companies directly from the Agro Investment Corporation warehouse.
According to the audit, these recipients were not on the Ministry of Agriculture's Approved Distribution List, and RADA did not present any approved beneficiary and verification forms used to assess eligibility for farm input.
RADA indicated that the four recipients were farmers producing various crops.
However, the requisite authorisation from the authority and the Agriculture Ministry was not presented.
Between September 2019 and July 2023, the Kingdom of Morocco donated approximately 72,000 bags, each containing 50 kilogrammes of assorted fertiliser at an estimated value of $349.4 million.
RADA rejects claims of poor oversight
But the Rural Agricultural Development Authority has rejected claims of poor oversight of the distribution of Moroccan fertiliser between 2019 and 2023.
The claims are levied in the performance audit report from the Auditor General's Department.
RADA said the claims misrepresent key aspects of its role and overlook significant strategic improvements implemented both during and after the period under review.
In defending its stewardship, RADA said the Moroccan fertiliser referenced in the report was not part of the production incentive programme, and as such, no procurement process was undertaken by the agency.
It said its role was primarily facilitative, ensuring the equitable distribution of fertiliser to farmers in collaboration with members of Parliament and other government agencies.
In responding to the specific claim that there was no verification of the distribution, RADA said it has started to receive distribution lists from MPs, which detail the names of farmers who received fertiliser and it has made follow-up requests to MPs to ensure post-distribution verification.
It has acknowledged that a portion of the 72,000 bags of fertiliser received was initially deemed unsuitable for regular distribution due to mechanical damage and handling issues, adding that the majority of the fertiliser was salvaged and repurposed for productive use on pastures and orchids at the ministry's research stations.
In the meantime, RADA said it has taken decisive steps to improve internal systems, enhance programme oversight, and ensure transparency across all its operations.
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