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{
    "id": 128990,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/128990/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 365,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "There are kiosks everywhere. They serve the citizens of this country with french fries. If you move just a few meters from Parliament, you will see several kiosks selling french fries commonly known as “chips”. That is the main food which is commonly served with sausages and soda. It is actually the main food in this town and other urban areas. Potatoes serve this country well, especially in urban and rural, where that crop is produced. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, farmers who grow potatoes undergo serious problems because of the negligence by the Government. The Government has not taken them very seriously. To get suitable seeds for various regions is not easy. Even if it is possible, no awareness has been created in the country to tell the people: “This is the best seed for your area.” That way, people can buy that seed and grow it in their areas. It is unlike maize, where we have maize seeds suitable for every area. People go to buy only those maize seeds that are suitable for their areas. You do not go for seeds that are not grown in your area because it is not going to do well. So, unlike maize and other seeds, potatoes have been neglected and that has really frustrated potato farmers. The Government must come out very clearly to support potato farmers by constructing preservation centres. During a bumper harvest, potato prices come down to even as low as Kshs200 per bag. That is because everybody has potatoes everywhere! But it is only for a very short time – around two or three months. After that, potatoes become scarce. During that potato scarcity time, the price of a bag of potatoes rise from Kshs200, Kshs500, Kshs1,000, Kshs1,500 and even Kshs2,000. It can go up even as far as Kshs4,000 per sack. If a potato preservation facility is given to farmers, during the times of scarcity, the potatoes which are preserved during a bumper harvest could be brought out to the market. They would fetch the farmers very good amounts of money. The farmers would feel that they have a crop which they can depend on. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is not only for food but for economic use. It can boost the income of the communities which depend on them. If we can improve that crop by way of providing seeds, preservation facilities and getting markets for the farmers, Kenyans in those potato-growing regions will be very proud. They will have a"
}