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{
    "id": 1242837,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1242837/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 319,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13588,
        "legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
        "slug": "osotsi-godfrey-otieno"
    },
    "content": "We looked at the kind of machinery that is there and it is not difficult for Kenya to have such. We can have the same machinery to do value addition in Kenya and maximize our production of tea in this country. So, the Government must seriously think about the issue of value addition not only in tea, cotton, and sugarcane but in everything, value addition is critical. I am happy the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries is very passionate about Macadamia nuts. He is working very hard to ensure that value addition for Macadamia nuts is done in this country. I would like to commend you, Sen. (Dr.) Murango, for that. However, you need now to enhance your interest in other crops like coffee, tea, sugarcane, and others so that we can maximize the opportunities available for value addition. We know there are a lot of challenges in the cotton industry. One is poor quality of seeds that are given to our farmers. We have issues to do with high input costs and the cost of production. This is not just for cotton but also for other crops. The cost of production, in this country is so high. That is why we cannot compete favourably with other countries. The issue of climate change is a key factor. However, our Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives has not integrated climate change into its planning on agricultural issues. So, the Ministry has to look at these challenges very carefully. If this country was able to sustain its position in terms of being one of the leading cotton producers in the world, probably it would be a major income generator for this country. Turkey has become an important country globally because of its strength in the textile industry. Also, everyone is asking for cotton made in Egypt. That is the space that we should be occupying as Kenyans but it has been taken away by other countries. So, those who talk about improving the economy should start by improving our agricultural sector so that they can spur the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and make this country an economic giant. This Bill reminds me of the wrong decision that was made some time back by the Government of Kenya to try and put all crops under one regulation, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA). That was the worst decision that was made in the agriculture sector. They lumped together sugarcane, tea, coffee and cotton under one regulation. You can now see that there are efforts to try and unbundle that. There are efforts to try and get back the Sugar Act. I know, we now have the Tea Act and now Sen. Beth Syengo is coming up with this Bill. That decision largely affected the agricultural sector, especially the sugar industry. That was the beginning of the collapse of the sugar industry that we know today. Otherwise, in my view, the sugar industry would still be stronger if it was still managed by the Kenya Sugar Board. I will be looking at this Bill as we go on in the Committee of the Whole House to try and raise amendments particularly, on the aspect of aligning it to the Agriculture and Food Authority Act, which we are clearly moving away from. If this Bill is aligned properly, then, this is a way to go."
}