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{
    "id": 1185937,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1185937/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 182,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "came up with a revolutionary Act of Parliament that increased the earnings of our farmers though there is still a lot to be done. I urge Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda, SC, to gather Senators representing counties that have sugarcane-growing farmers and we will work together. There is nothing in this Statement that cannot be addressed by that particular Bill. This is a very important industry in our economy. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to add that we must expedite the process of privatization. The reason Uganda continues to produce more sugar than us is because 20 years ago, Uganda took the decision to privatize what were public mills. Since then, they have become extremely profitable. They have a surplus and that is why they feed us. That is why on many occasions when we block sugar from Uganda, within two weeks President Museveni or his Minister for Finance and Trade arrive here in Nairobi. That ought not to be the situation. If the Taskforce concludes on that exercise and the Privatization Commission has done all the studies, then we will know the value of the mill and the nucleus estates across all the 18 publicly owned sugar factories in the country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we need to take a decision and inform or call the CS to this House to give us the roadmap especially those of us who are interested parties, representing farmers that continue to wallow in poverty. I do not agree with the statement made by Sen. Olekina, that sugar is a poor man’s crop. It is not true. That is a statement based on ignorance. I know for a fact that in my county, it is all about the ability to develop your cane well. If you invest well, put the correct amount of fertilizer, irrigate properly and allow it to mature, without using any shortcuts, you have better earnings than in any other crops."
}