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{
    "id": 1259515,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1259515/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 417,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wambua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13199,
        "legal_name": "Enoch Kiio Wambua",
        "slug": "enoch-kiio-wambua"
    },
    "content": "are assigned to its agency, which is the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA). It is assigned the responsibility of putting in place measures aimed at improving the overall production of mung beans in the country. Further, it is tasked with the responsibility to establish and coordinate as well as monitor the implementation of national standards and policies relating to the mung beans industry and provide technical assistance and capacity building to county governments, either on its own initiative or upon request by a county government. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Bill is very specific when it comes to what the county governments are supposed to do. In this Bill, we have assigned responsibilities to the County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) responsible for Agriculture. One is to put in place measures to improve the quality and quantity of production of mung beans within the county. We have just completed debate on agricultural extension services. One of the responsibilities that this Bill assigns to county governments and especially the CECM responsible for Agriculture is to ensure that the quality and quantity of production of this cereal is improved and well-coordinated from the county headquarters. Second, is what I have just said. Provision of extension services to the growers in respective counties and enforce regulations and standards as captured at the national level. One of the overriding assignments given to the CECMs for Agriculture is the provision of inputs and implements, including seeds, fertilizer and other planting materials in order to facilitate production of mung beans. What has been happening in most counties today is that it has become a matter of choice and option for county governments to either provide or not provide seeds during planting season. In respect to mung beans, which I said yesterday and I want to repeat it again, the crop has the highest potential of transforming lives especially in arid and semi-arid areas. When it comes to planting season, county governments have an obligation under this law to provide at least seeds to farmers. A challenge has arisen in arid and semi-arid regions. The same seeds that farmers have planted and harvested serve as seeds for that season. The county governments have a responsibility of providing certified seeds to farmers to grow this crop. The certified seeds should also be in line with the climatic conditions of the area where these beans are grown. Mr. Temporary Speaker, it also makes a provision for county governments to promote and invest in the necessary infrastructure to facilitate access to markets and transportation of mung beans and its products within and outside the respective counties. We need to promote infrastructure for purposes of transportation of the beans from farms to markets and from markets in one county to markets in other counties. We should even make available means of transportation of these produce to regional markets. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we looked at the statistics yesterday while I moved the Bill. These beans are consumed heavily not just in Kenya or this region, but also in the Middle East and Asia. The county governments have a responsibility to ensure that when these beans are produced from the farm, they reach the market in good time. We have also provided in Clause 6 a collaboration between the national and county governments on the matter of implementing feeding programmes within schools"
}