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{
    "id": 1458882,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1458882/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 675,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kibwezi West, MCCP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mwengi Mutuse",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(6) The board shall apply the money received under this section for the furtherance of the objects of the Board. (7) The money received by the board under this section shall be apportioned as follows— (a) an amount not exceeding seventy per cent for the development of constituency textile value addition and garment manufacturing centres, to be developed in every constituency; and, (b) an amount not exceeding thirty per cent to provide for sustainable, affordable credit and advances to cotton farmers for all or any of the following purposes– (i) farm improvement; (ii) farm inputs; (iii) farming operations; and, (iv) price stabilisation. Clause 39 is on imposition of levies. We are proposing an amendment for the imposition of Cotton Development Levy so that the industry is resourced. It has three particular limbs that are important in our proposed amendment. Number one, we want the levy to be imposed on imported finished textiles, and not on the local cotton or raw materials that may be coming into the country. The purpose of imposing the levy on finished textile products is to, first, protect the industry that we want to grow locally and, secondly, to protect our economy from cheap imports from other economies. Number two, the amendment as provided was very broad and had left the board with unfettered powers to determine how the money collected will be spent. I have come up with a proposal that 70 per cent of the money that will be collected from the Cotton Development Levy be used to establish constituency cotton value addition centres. This will ensure that Members of this House who come from cotton-growing areas have a fund to establish the Cotton Development Centres within their constituencies for purposes of promoting the cotton industry. The other 30 per cent of this fund will be used as soft credit to farmers for purposes of promotion of that industry. Therefore, after consulting with the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, Hon. Dr Mutunga, we agreed that this proposed amendment is justified and is in the spirit of promoting the industry. It is also at the centre of ensuring that farmers have money to use in farming. It will also ensure that there is money for the Government to establish cotton industries at the local level. If you look around in this House, many of us are wearing imported clothes. The purpose of this amendment is to make sure that these clothes are made locally and we can export. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I request the House to adopt the amendment that I have proposed."
}