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{
"id": 1046166,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1046166/?format=api",
"text_counter": 157,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Kang’ata",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 1826,
"legal_name": "Irungu Kang'ata",
"slug": "irungu-kangata"
},
"content": "In a world which is becoming more and more integrated and we are opening up barriers of trade, countries must take advantage of what we call comparative advantage. In Kenya, its major comparative advantage vis-a-vis other countries is its agricultural potential. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, notwithstanding the huge contribution of agriculture to the Kenyan economy, the investment by the Government is never commensurate. You find that we invest more in things like infrastructure and security, which is positive, but rarely do we get commensurate investments in agriculture. Therefore, this is a move in the right direction. Let me start with the merits of this Bill. One merit of this Bill is that it brings mung beans to the centre of Government agenda on matters agriculture. For the longest time when we talk about agriculture in this country, concentration has been on a coffee, tea and milk. I think it is high time we also diversify in other areas that can boost agriculture. I agree with the Mung Beans Bill because now that it will get recognition, this will compel the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) to take into account matters mung beans. To me, that is important. I foresee a situation where the Cabinet Secretary concerned with agriculture at the national level, being compelled to market mung beans externally and put out standards for mung beans. That way, you will find these beans becoming more and more marketable, grown in Kenya and protecting the farmer. Another major advantage concerning this Bill is that at the proposed Clause 4, it confers certain duties to Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA). Further, Clause 5 confers further duties on county executive committee so that you have a situation where the national Government is intervening for the growing of mung beans. Also, there is some role given to the county government to promote the marketing of this. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am also happy with the proposal in proposed Section 6, which now compels the various Government entities to give priority in products of mung beans in Government programmes. Government usually has several programmes, for instance, the food relief. When you look at the products used by Government in food relief, you will see more emphasis on beans, maize and rice. I am not aware of a certain time where the Government distributed mung bean. For the people watching, mung bean is ndengu. Allow me to use this term for the common mwananchi to understand. We have rarely seen the Government distributing ndengu to wananchi. If this law passes, you will see the Government purchasing ndengu and taking it to wananchi hence the prices going up. We all know the importance of Government in this economy; it revolves around the Government in terms of huge allocations and budgets. When the Government purchases ndengu, then distributes it two things happens; first, the producer price will go up. You will find farmers in Kitui and also in Murang’a where we have a huge region that has potential to grow ndengu . The entire region stretching to Thika town to Kakuzi region in the lower Gatanga, Ithanga Ward, the entire Kimorori and Makuyu in Maragwa, Kabiti, location 20 in Kiharu, parts of Gaturi in Kiharu and parts of lower Kandara. The whole of the region is capable. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}