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{
    "id": 1086929,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1086929/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 503,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ndhiwa, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Martin Owino",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13449,
        "legal_name": "Martin Peters Owino",
        "slug": "martin-peters-owino"
    },
    "content": "It is very important in the sense that all the relationships which were not well cemented are now going to be cemented in contracts. So, farmers are not going to be cheated. The issue of inputs takes a lot of money, and there is no structure that controls their prices. That has also been considered in this Bill. Pricing has been addressed here. In this Bill, farmers are also given power in sub-committees that consider pricing. One of the Members here, (Hon. (Dr.) Eseli), suggested that sucrose content will also be considered as part of pricing so that farmers do not lose out because of the volume. The sucrose content will play a great role. The most important thing that has not been addressed here is licensing and registration of millers and the jagarries. Presently, jagarries are not licensed and registered. Traders, especially women, are chased here and there by the police as if they are selling illegal products. So, after registration and licensing, the jaggeries and molasses plants will be legal and nobody will be harassed. Cane maturity is an issue because cane can go for more than 30 months before harvesting and so it loses weight. It means farmers lose on prices as well. This Bill sets some caps that the first cutting should go up to 16 to 20 months and the ratoons will go further from 16 to 22. If this Bill is enacted, no miller will delay to pick the cane until it flowers in the farms and that is where we have been losing it. Actually, when cane flowers, it attracts fires. Many farmers have lost cane in fires. However, we are also addressing how the cane that has burned can also be priced here. I cannot say much more on sugar-cane research. We lost a very good institution. It will be back. It will help in cane development and also modern technology so that we can move the cane industry ahead. On the sugar development fund, the Leader of the Minority Party said it all. It is true I have a private miller in my constituency but, when farmers bring their cane, they are charged 1 per cent for infrastructure and other development. However, the 1 per cent which we call cess is not retained in the industry. It is given to the county government which does not plough back to improve the roads. So, in this arrangement, the board will take charge of infrastructure. That way, farmers can have their cane picked from the farms on time. Right now, a lot of sugar-cane is flowering because it is raining, but it cannot make it to the factory on those bad roads. That is a big headache. Because of this Bill, we will have a more improved system in terms of infrastructure development. On the issue of mobile weighing machines, we have suggested an amendment that will ensure farmers do not lose cane during transportation. We know they lose quite a lot. We want those weighing machines to be closer to farmers. That way, they will not lose on that front as well. Lastly, there is a lot of say that has gone in here on the Crop Act which lumped together all those crops. In fact, as a National Assembly, we should look into this amalgamation of Acts. Right now, we have saved the tea industry. We are saving the sugar industry and the next one will be to bring the Coffee Board. Those were there before and erroneously lumped together to create another Act that has really brought issues to us. So, I urge Members that we need to do this like yesterday. Please let us support this Bill so that farmers can also have their smiles again. I thank you."
}