Fertile hope, futile cause
Friday, July 26, 2019
As stubborn as farmers’ hopes traditionally are, the last several years of El Nino-induced drought have tested the resolve of even the most strong-headed.
Known as the country’s “first borns,” farmers were the backbone of this economy long before shiny stones were discovered in the Motloutse River in the mid-1950s, sparking the diamond era.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...