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{
    "id": 1157546,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1157546/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 294,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kasanga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13185,
        "legal_name": "Sylvia Mueni Kasanga",
        "slug": "sylvia-mueni-kasanga"
    },
    "content": "We see what happens most of the times with sugar pricing and sometimes hoarding but we are not sure what causes such distortions. It would be good now to have somebody looking out to advise the Government on why such distortions would happen and how to mitigate them. I like the idea of facilitating arbitration of disputes amongst interested parties. I am a dispute resolver. If you remember, I have actually sponsored a Bill on alternative disputes resolutions. It is good when I see provisions of disputes resolutions factored into Bills in every sector. We do not have to run to the courts every time. Our courts are already encumbered with a backlog of cases. When I see dispute resolution mechanisms put in Bills in different sectors like these I celebrate. It is an expansion of the work of the board but it is a good thing because issues can be resolved faster in this manner and the people can get back to work without losing a lot of money. The board will also facilitate an equitable mechanism for the pricing of sugarcane and appropriation of those proceeds from the disposal of the byproducts of the sugar production between millers and growers as stipulated in the guidelines. This is a fantastic provision because there are always challenges when it comes to sharing of benefits. When those equitable mechanisms are defined by the board, that is a wonderful thing. The county governments are devolved functions and they therefore, have a lot of roles to play. Those are very well-defined in this Bill. I like the offer under Section 5 (b) that “The county government shall offer and coordinate extension services on sugar production and milling in the respective counties”. I was in a panel not so long ago where we discussing how to upscale agriculture and food production in this country. Somebody made a comment and asked “When was the last time you saw an extension officer in your backyard coming to give advice to farmers on various issues; how to till the land, get the soil healthy or to avoid tiring the soil with a lot of pesticides and insecticides?” I like that the fact that it has been put here so that it can be something that is definite and that will be dealt with going forward. I have gone through the Bill. I have seen the composition of the Board and that is in order. I do not have much to comment on that. I have seen the licensing and registration and I like the provision under Section 20; this is about importation of sugar."
}