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{
    "id": 1425613,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1425613/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 229,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof) Kamar",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 33,
        "legal_name": "Margaret Jepkoech Kamar",
        "slug": "margaret-kamar"
    },
    "content": "how to add value, so that we do not sell raw things. If we add value 100 per cent for the farmers, they will get much better than what we are getting right now. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, increasing production is one of the things that this Bill is promoting. Processing is the other one. If we can add value to any product that we produce, we can export and more earn foreign exchange for our country. Whether it is COMESA or the market that we have in the East African Community (EAC), we need to add value to ensure that we export something that is of quality. A lot of our neighbouring countries have relied a lot on Kenya for a very long time. They have been relying on is a few BIDCO products. So, we need to spread out and make sure that the farmers get value for their produce. The other thing that I support in this Bill is sustained research and extension services. Without research, we will not improve the yield and determine where to grow what. Our research sector must remain vibrant as far as the production of agricultural products, including the oil crops that we are dealing with in this Bill, is concerned. We need to support our universities with research fundings. We need to support our agricultural research services with funding, so that they research and improve on these crops. If you look at products that have been developed by our researchers, whether it is maize or wheat, they are superior. This is because they are indigenous and they have been produced in the climatic zone where the crop is going to be grown. So, expanding our research and supporting research is key. I hope that out of this Bill, we can expand the ongoing research work. Extension services are important because they ensure we have quality products products and seeds. If you do not have extension workers who can move from house to house, farmer to farmer, to help them know the agricultural practices that will go along with these crops, it becomes a problem. Extension services are devolved. Therefore, we expect our governors to start budgeting for not just our current crops, but also invest in extension staff in anticipation of the new crops, including nuts, we are advocating in this Bill. Groundnuts grow everywhere in the country, but value addition has reduced them to a snack for children. We know that when you are out of this country, a packet of groundnuts is valued highly. People buy them at a high price. This is something that our farmers should enjoy. I do not want to say more than that. I thank Sen. Kibwana for coming up with a beautiful Bill. I believe when it is passed, it will change the lives of many farmers and Kenyans in general. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I support."
}