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{
"id": 1464782,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1464782/?format=api",
"text_counter": 210,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Galole, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Said Hiribae",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Let me remind the Member that Kone-Kaliti is in my constituency. It is not in her constituency. The people who are staying there are Ormas. There are no Ormas in Kitui."
},
{
"id": 1464783,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1464783/?format=api",
"text_counter": 211,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. David Ochieng’",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you. The Member for Kitui South is guided to bring a statement on that matter, if she wants it handled the way she proposes. This matter for now will go to the relevant committee, which is the Committee on Tourism and The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1464784,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1464784/?format=api",
"text_counter": 212,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. David Ochieng’",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Wildlife. Then the matter will be handled with the relevant committee when a statement in regard to that is brought before the House. Hon. Members, before we move to the next statement, join me in welcoming students from Tingatela Comprehensive School in Kipkelion West in Kericho County, and students from Borowet Primary School in Kipkelion West, Kericho County. They are seated in the Public Gallery. They are welcome to follow our proceedings this afternoon. Next is the Member for Lurambi."
},
{
"id": 1464785,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1464785/?format=api",
"text_counter": 213,
"type": "heading",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "REDUCTION OF SUGARCANE PRICES BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD AUTHORITY"
},
{
"id": 1464786,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1464786/?format=api",
"text_counter": 214,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Lurambi, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Titus Khamala",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I rise to request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, regarding the reduction of sugarcane prices by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA). The Agriculture and Food Authority was established under Section 3 of the Agriculture and Food Authority Act, Cap 317 with the mandate of regulating, developing and promoting scheduled crops in the country, including sugarcane. The authority plays a critical role in promoting crops value chain for increased economic growth in the country. However, recent price changes by AFA have raised significant concerns among sugarcane farmers and stakeholders in the sugar industry. On 7th August 2024, AFA issued a notice directing a reduction in sugarcane prices from Ksh5,125 to Ksh4,950 per tonne effective from August 2024. It is particularly concerning given that the Authority had earlier revised prices from Ksh6,100 to Ksh5,125 per tonne. Those reductions represent a significant setback for sugarcane farmers as the cost of production has not decreased, meaning that farmers are now operating at a loss. Furthermore, there has been no public participation nor stakeholder engagement meetings with the farmers and millers, raising questions about the transparency and inclusivity of the decision-making process. Hon. Temporary Speaker, it is against this background that I request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock on the following: 1. Report on the factors and indicators that the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) used to determine the new sugarcane prices; 2. Mechanisms in place to ensure that price regulations are made with adequate input from all relevant stakeholders, particularly farmers and millers; 3. Plans to review and potentially reverse this price reduction in light of its negative impact on the livelihoods of farmers; and, 4. Long term strategies to stabilise sugarcane prices and ensure fair compensation to farmers. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
},
{
"id": 1464787,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1464787/?format=api",
"text_counter": 215,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. David Ochieng’",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Before I allow the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock to respond, the Member for Kakamega has a related question. I will allow her to proceed. You do not have to go through your question the way he has done. You can just go through the areas you think he has left out."
},
{
"id": 1464788,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1464788/?format=api",
"text_counter": 216,
"type": "heading",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "INTERIM CANE PRICES FOR AUGUST 2024 SET BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD AUTHORITY"
},
{
"id": 1464789,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1464789/?format=api",
"text_counter": 217,
"type": "other",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1464790,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1464790/?format=api",
"text_counter": 218,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kakamega County, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Elsie Muhanda",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I take this early lead to congratulate Hon. Millie Odhiambo “Anguka Nayo” as our new Minority Whip. As women, we are very proud of her. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock regarding the interim cane price for the month of August 2024, as set out by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) (Sugar Directorate). On 7th August 2024, the Acting Director-General of the Sugar Directorate within the Agriculture and Food Authority issued a circular, Ref: AFA/SD/DIR/TAS/11/ (41), addressed to all sugar millers. That circular followed the expiry of the interim cane pricing committee and in the absence of a Cabinet Secretary to appoint the same, guided the price for cane in the interim at Ksh4,950 per tonne for the month of August. Despite the circular being issued on 7th August 2023, it was vague regarding the effective date of the interim cane price, referencing the entire month of August in an omnibus manner. As a result, this has affected all the sugar cane that was harvested in August, with millers retroactively adjusting transactions for the entire month in line with the circular. The sugarcane price per tonne was initially set at Ksh6,100 in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with sugar stakeholders. Unfortunately, that price has since fallen to Ksh5,200, then to Ksh5,125, and now Ksh4,950 as set by AFA. That drastic reduction has severely impacted farmers, as the interim cane price was established without considering the cost of production and time factor. To put this in context, at the time of planting, farmers incurred costs of Ksh5,500 per tonne for seed cane, Ksh5,500 and Ksh5,300 per bag for DAP and Urea fertilisers respectively, with each acre requiring two bags of each. Moreover, land preparation activities such as ploughing, re-ploughing, harrowing, furrowing and weeding have imposed significant financial burdens on the farmers. Despite the western region relying on sugarcane as the major cash crop, farmers are currently spending more than they earn on sugarcane production due to the low prices. Those low prices have led to devastating consequences, including cane poaching, diminished agricultural development and some farmers uprooting their sugarcane crops to plant alternative crops and consequential increased poverty levels. Hon. Temporary Speaker, it is against this background that I request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock on the following: 1. A comprehensive report on the rationale and basis used by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) to set the interim cane price for August 2024 at Ksh4,950 per tonne, including the criteria used to determine that price; 2. The effective date of the interim cane price and explain why the Circular issued by AFA on 7th August 2024 did not specify a clear start date, leading to confusion and retroactive adjustments by millers; 3. An update on the measures being taken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to control the influx of cheap sugar into the country, which has contributed to price fluctuations, thereby undermining the development of the sugar cane farming sector in Kenya; 4. Details on the consultations, if any, that were undertaken with sugarcane farmers and other stakeholders before the interim cane price was set and whether the concerns of farmers regarding the production costs were considered; and, The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1464791,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1464791/?format=api",
"text_counter": 219,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kakamega County, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Elsie Muhanda",
"speaker": null,
"content": "5. Detailed information on the composition and status of the reconstitution of the cane pricing committee, including whether there is representation from sugarcane farmers in the current structure."
}
]
}