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{
    "id": 113870,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/113870/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 216,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "In response to Mr. Mungatana’s question, I want to set the record clear that the Government is not discriminating in any way against farmers from any part of the country. Last year, we set aside Kshs1.4 billion to buy maize between September and December, mainly from the North Rift. I had a meeting between my office and the Ministries of Special Programmes, Provincial Administration and Internal Security and the Office of the President, specifically to tackle the issue of the short rains. In that meeting it was approved that money would be made available to the Ministry of Special Programmes for purchase of maize in this short rains period. Unfortunately, that money had not been forthcoming. In fact, I am making this statement in the spirit of collective responsibility; it should actually be made by the Ministry of Special Programmes. But we have agreed that I make this statement because, indeed, last Friday, the Government made the money available. I want to assure Mr. Mungatana that when he goes home this weekend, he will find that all the maize that farmers will want to deliver to our depots will have been bought. The depots were opened across Eastern Province yesterday; the rest of the depots will be opened across Nyanza, Coast and in the South Rift by tomorrow and we will begin to process payments by the end of this month. But I have already instructed the NCPB to accept the maize and ask the farmers to come and collect their money later in the week, when we have processed it. We have also, where there are no depots, instructed the NCPB to open buying centres; we would want to liaise with MPs so that we establish appropriate places with sufficient storage capacity for us to locate the centres for purposes of ensuring that the maize does not get spoilt. Unfortunately, we do not have drying facilities in Eastern Province. The farmers will have to help us dry the maize, but we will ensure that whatever maize is made available to the NCPB is bought and relocated, so that we can create adequate space for any additional maize that will be bought. I want to assure hon. Members that we have already made adequate arrangements for both certified seeds and fertilizers to be made available everywhere in the country. I can assure this House that the fertilizer and seed are already available throughout our depots across the country; the fertilizer has been subsidized; it is now going to sell at Kshs2,000."
}