Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1276245,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1276245/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 306,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Prof. Tom Odhiambo Ojienda, SC",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise to contribute on the Statement on the importation of sugar that has been made this afternoon by the Senator of Nairobi City through nominated Sen. Syengo. The sugar industry has suffered several challenges that have seen several attempts to privatize the many sugar factories under the Privatization Act. Only a few days ago, the President directed that some of those processes stop so that we are able to get control of our sugar industry and the sugar sector. Madam Temporary Speaker, let me comment as a sugar cane farmer that the sugar industry is in its death-bed in this country. We can see activities both in factories like Mumias, Muhoroni and Chemelil grinding to a halt and some of our farms are under receivership. I wish to point out the fact that the Statement sought on the importation of sugar both from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and non- COMESA sugar go to circulars that have been raised by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries allowing importation. Let me state that the importation is intended to bridge the gap so that the price of sugar can come down. I think it is an effort that we must support, as the Senate, as we improve the industry through deliberate measures of ensuring that we put in money in inputs so that the production of sugar is at a level that is manageable, so that we control prices. As we do that, we must in the short time ensure that the citizens of this country who consume sugar are able to buy sugar from the shelves at a rate that is affordable. I know that one of the problems that the industry suffers at the moment is the lack of mature cane. Madam Temporary Speaker, most factories in this country are unable to harvest sugarcane because farmers are unable to produce sugarcane competitively. The sugarcane in the fields is immature and harvested at 18 months. The effect of that is that the level of sucrose in the sugar does not attract competitive prices for the farmer. The Sugar Bill, 2018, which was tabled before this House has several interesting propositions. This House should support reforms within the sugar sector so that farmers are able to put money in their pockets, which will in turn encourage them to farm sugar cane. This will prevent a situation where certain sugarcane farmers clear their crops in order to produce maize yet maize production has problems too. Madam Temporary Speaker, I support the Statement. However, we need a deliberate balance between importation in the short term. We also need to ensure that inputs enable the sugar cane farmer to produce sugar that is competitive so that there is money in their pockets for other purposes."
}