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{
    "id": 1049188,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1049188/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 208,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Godfrey Osotsi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13172,
        "legal_name": "Godfrey Osotsi",
        "slug": "godfrey-osotsi"
    },
    "content": "As it has been said by many Members, this is a very important crop because of the high economic potential that it brings. The crop can be used in many things like flooring materials, cosmetics, shoe polish, ink, silk, medicinal and even food colouring. So, it is a crop which has high economic potential. However, it is very surprising that since this crop was used for economic purposes from the 1970s, the Ministry of Agriculture has never thought to include it in the schedule of crops in the Crops Act. That demonstrates the level of laxity in the Ministry of Agriculture. There are other crops across the country which ideally should be included in the list. So, something has to be done about this. It means that the research arm of the Ministry of Agriculture or the organs within the Ministry that are supposed to undertake research are not doing their work. I can give an example of the bamboo tree. It is doing very well in Vihiga County where I come from. It is doing so well and can be used for very many things but it is not listed in the Crops Act. Something has to be done. I am happy that the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock is here. This is an issue the Committee should follow up to basically list down the crops which have high economic value in different regions and find ways of including them in the schedule of crops. They do not have to wait for a Member, like Hon. Tandaza, to bring a Bill so that a crop is included in the list. This is something that should be done automatically through research."
}