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{
    "id": 1242247,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1242247/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 937,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, cotton is a produce that gives us different byproducts. Away from farming, we have the manufacturing process. The farming and manufacturing sectors are going to increase job creation. As it is, the economy is tough. However, as much as it is tough, it is high time we minimized on white-collar jobs and look at jobs that are actually going to have a much bigger futuristic benefit. The agricultural sector is one of them, whereby our youths from different regions are going to get employment. White-collar jobs will also be attained. This is close to over 10,000 people who will be in these offices, ensuring they acquire a bigger market share for the cash crop. The Finance Bill that we have been talking about has a clause that talks about excise duty on imported products. The Finance Bill is discouraging imported products that we, as a country, can produce and provide in our markets. It is high time that we understand that the Finance Bill is encouraging our own local industries in both manufacturing and farming sectors. The moment we embrace and add value to our cash crops and more precisely to the cotton that we are discussing about, then we embrace what is our own, Kenyan and African. To note is that tomorrow is actually the African Day. Therefore, we need the time to pride in our local products that we have as a country. When I get an opportunity to travel, one of the things that comes out when you say that you are from Kenya is the Kenyan tea. It is an international product. It is what resonates because they know that the Kenyan tea is a brand. I urge my colleagues to take time and get to understand what is in this Finance Bill. I am happy that the Bill proposes to remove some of the taxes for coffee and tea. This is where we should take cotton in such a way that we also pride in it. Madam Temporary Speaker, the market has been affected by brokers. Our farmers sweat so much and go through a lot, but the output is minimised. I am happy to state that I have a Bill about extension services. Agriculture is a devolved function. I can see that Sen. Beth Syengo clearly understands that this cash crop grows well in specific counties. Through the intervention of the extension officers, we expect a lot of improvement of the product, taking the product to the standard that is required because standards matter. The extension officers are going to ensure that our farmers have the right seedlings, right soil PH levels and components required, including following the correct farming processes, so that we have a product that will shine the way tea is shining in this country. Madam Temporary Speaker, back to the Finance Bill. When we talk about the housing, we need to realize that it is much more about the urban sector. We need to ensure that the land that we have, especially in the counties is ploughed and utilized as agricultural land. The question we should ask is; agricultural land for what products? Cotton is one of the products. If we use our farms for that purpose, we are going to enhance maximum production and yields of this particular commodity."
}