{"id":1264010,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1264010/?format=json","text_counter":107,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Matungu, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. Peter Nabulindo","speaker":null,"content":"to over-rely on net importation of sugar, which negatively impacts on the balance of trade; noting that the decline in sugar production is attributable to factors such as mismanagement, interference and unfair competition from cheaply imported sugar; further concerned that state-owned sugar millers like Mumias Sugar Company and Nzoia Sugar Company ceased milling while owing farmers hundreds of millions of shillings; appreciating that the Government has been putting in place strategies, policies and regulations to define the roles of millers and major players and stakeholders in the sugar industry in a bid to revamp the sector; concerned that the acute shortage of sugar-cane resulting from mass abandonment of sugar-cane farming continues to roll back initiatives for reviving sugar milling; recognising that further investment in revamping sugar companies before reviving sugar-cane farming would occasion loss of the invested public funds instead of yielding success; now, therefore, this House resolves that the national Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, reviews the sugar development policies to provide that every investor-miller sets aside definite funds for the development of sugar-cane farming, incentivising farmers to embrace sugar-cane growing and to enhance cane production in each of the respective zones."}