REPORTS have emerged that there is internal chaos among the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock top officials.

This division is in relation to the Cocoa and Coconut fund allocated for farmers this year.

This paper obtained documents which highlight correspondence between the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Director of Planning and Land Use Department.

In the first letter, dated Tuesday April 4, 2017, the Director of Planning and Land Use Department said that there will be no application forms given out to farmers this year because farmers who have been awarded with funds have misused it.

Instead of paying materials for their farms, they were reported to have bought cargoes for their canteens, solar panels and laptops.

And, farmers awarded with farming tools for coconut and cocoa rehabilitation had resold the tools for cash.

“Some applicant applied for cocoa or coconut trading buy cargo for their canteens, Solar Panels and other things instead of buying wet or dry beans.

“Others who applied for coconut and cocoa rehabilitation programmes also resell the tools the tools and get money,” the letter stated.

Based on these reasons, the Director of Planning and Land Use Planning decided not to give out an Agriculture application forms to farmers.

The Director is suggesting a new approach known as ‘work first and play later’ on activities selected by the Ministry of Planning and Land Use Department.

However, responding to the Director’s letter, the Permanent Secretary in his letter, dated April 5, 2017, stated that the message will put the Ministry at stake, adding, such comments are liable and is subjected to the Law.

“What you just described is liable to criminal offence. The crime of conversion will land you in jail for two years.”

He adds that diverting of Funds from its intended purpose to something utterly different can also result in jail time.

The letter also asked why the Director of Planning made such a description that will paint a bad picture on the Ministry’s staffs as well as the government, furthering that the issue is a result of late implementation of projects.

“These are rushed and applications assessments not done properly when implementation is done late in the year. As a result, what you described is the outcome. It is therefore best to implement programmes early in the year to avoid carry over arears to the following year, affecting budgets.

“I hope you do not say such things to the media as it will create a lot of bad press for the ministry,” letter stated.

When contacted yesterday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Mr Jimmi Saelea refutes the report saying that it is a non-issue.

“Whatever information you have at this point in time is not factual as it is an internal matter for the Director and his staff to resolve as normal, before taking it to the executive management for consideration, as such it is a non-issue,” he said.

This paper decided to write part of conversation in a separate article as it has some important issues worth clarifying about the issue.