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{
"id": 1399286,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399286/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13599,
"legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
"slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
},
"content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, under Section 23 of the Bill, there is provision for anybody who wants to import sugarcane to import only what is called a deficit, an established deficit of the supply of sugar locally. Therefore, one of biggest complaints of farmers has been that we are being forced to compete with those people who import sugar when we have sufficient sugar on the ground. Therefore, it will be the responsibility of the Board to establish that before an import license or import permit is given, there is actually that deficit. I am also happy with the provision on sugar inspectors under Section 34 and 35, who have the powers to enter any premises. In the past few years, we have seen smuggling of sugar into the country, and importation of sugar that is either a substandard or unfit for human consumption, or even criminals importing sugar which is laced with very hazardous chemicals. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, these sugar inspectors will have that power to enter any premises and seize any product for as long as there are reasonable grounds to suspect that there is something wrong with that sugar. Likewise, I am very happy that the proponents of this Bill have in the Bill provided for sugar agreements. These are agreements between growers and millers or agreements between growers and outgrower institutions or millers and outgrowers. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if you read the Bill and the provisions on what those sugarcane agreements should contain, they provide clarity between the farmer and the miller on how that relationship will be governed. It is something that I would support very much. There is also the introduction of the sugar pricing committees, which also have representatives of growers, and two representatives of the counties under Section 58. The responsibility of this Pricing Committee is to come up with pricing formulas and when they are doing that job, they have to consider various factors, including, cane related charges paid by the farmer. You will also see that they have provided for a formula that considers delayed harvesting. Since one of the issues we have in the sugar growing areas is that you will be told this sugar can mature in 18 months and we have farmers who have stayed with their crop for over two years waiting for harvesting. The losses that they incur in that instance should be compensated. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, allow me to say that I would be proposing only a few amendments about a few things that are of concern to me. I have the benefit of not only being a sugarcane farmer in Bungoma, but I also represent a county where the biggest source of revenue and jobs for our people, are industries. I have had a conversation with both sponsors of this Bill in the National Assembly and even in the Senate, about the concerns that have been raised by industry with regard to the introduction of the sugar development levy on industrial white sugar. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if you look at the definition of industrial -white sugar under Section 2, it is sugar that is used as a sweetener or a preservative. This industrial white-sugar is used in many consumer products. The biggest of course, is the beverage industry. It is use in soft drinks, your sodas, juices, jams, jellies, and in baked The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}