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{
    "id": 1144371,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1144371/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 329,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tharaka, DP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. George Gitonga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13491,
        "legal_name": "George Gitonga Murugara",
        "slug": "george-gitonga-murugara"
    },
    "content": "well in the 1960s and 1970s, but afterwards, suddenly, everything went down and the crops became almost extinct. They were not being produced anymore. Since the advent of colonialism, sisal was grown widely and was a source of revenue for the country. We had the East African Bag and Cordage Company Ltd in Juja, which used to process sisal for the country for export purposes. However, because of polythene and other substandard materials that crept into the market, the sisal sector was “killed” and farming of the crop went down. We also had cotton and sisal, which used to do very well in Tharaka. Again, substandard materials like polythene, polyester and other carbons that were brought in from abroad killed a very illustrious industry. We no longer have what used to be called the Cotton Lint and Seed Marketing Board, which was dealing with cotton. When these Regulations came, we wanted them to go down to our people in the constituencies for the relevant authority to explain to them that with the law coming into force, they were reviving agriculture in terms of sisal, cotton and other fibre crops. Unfortunately, that was not done. So, we felt it right that we should do away with the proposed Regulations so that the regulation-making authority can go back to the drawing board, draw up a calendar where they would visit the constituencies where these crops are grown, take the views of the citizens and assure them that this is a good law which will help them to revive their agriculture and to a great extent, revive their economy in terms of agriculture. Agriculture is the backbone of this country’s economy. It is the one we are targeting. Every campaign slogan and presidential candidate is talking about growing the people from the bottom, growing farmers, putting money into their pockets, ensuring that they are taken care of with subsidies and whatever else. This is the right time for the Ministry of Agriculture and the various agencies that are under it to go to the farmers to assure them that there is hope left in agriculture, and that agriculture is not a ‘dirty profession’ as people used to call it. It is a muddy profession. You have to dirt yourself to earn your money. It will be a clean industry now, where you earn your money; you get money in your pockets. Farmers will feel proud to be associated with farming. Let this regulations-making authority go back to the drawing board and come up with good regulations. Let us listen to everybody. If they suit this House, we will approve them."
}