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{
    "id": 1488696,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1488696/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 327,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Lugari, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Nabii Nabwera",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "task of serving as the taskforce joint secretary. We went around this country. The Bill borrows largely from the negotiated version by the stakeholders in the sugar industry. I thank the Members, our colleagues whom we were in the Mediation Committee. I want to speak to the issue about catchment area. Clause 19 of the Bill provides that the contracted farmers will be restricted within the catchment area of their contracted millers. Clause 20 of the Bill allows non-contracted farmers to supply cane to any miller in the country. Clause 20 of the Bill cures Clause 19 of the Bill. You are aware that five of our mills— Nzoia Sugar Company, Chemilil Sugar Company, Sony Sugar Company, Muhoroni Sugar Company and Miwani Sugar Company— are supposed to be managed under the new leasing arrangement. No investor in the sugar sector wants to invest his money, if he is not guaranteed of the raw material. This has been the biggest problem in the sugar industry. To cure it, it was necessary to create a catchment area. The provision for Sugar Development Fund has multiple importance for those of us in the sugar sector. We are imposing a levy on imported sugar which is something that has never happened before. That is why imported sugar is a menace in this country. It will not be cheap anymore. This provides room for the local industry to grow. Before the advent of AFA, we were in the process of developing a faster maturing variety of cane. Sugarcane matures after nine months in India. It matures after 11 months in Mauritius. It matures between 11 and 13 months in Brazil. Because we did away with the sugar regime at that time, our sugarcane matures between 19 and 24 months. By providing money to Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute, we are assured that we will move from 19 months to early maturing cane of 11 months. We have even gone further in that Bill to provide for propagation of the new varieties. We have provided regions for research. I associate myself with the sentiments of Hon. Okello on the issue of infrastructure development. This was a very contentious issue. I thank our colleagues from the Senate who held the position that this is a devolved function. But we then agreed that the money for infrastructure development reposit at the Kenya Sugar Board. It will only be used in the areas where sugarcane is grown. That means, even in my own constituency, the wards that do not have sugarcane will not benefit from money for infrastructure development. Why are we doing this? One of the most destructive things in the sugar sector are the tractors that haul cane. There is a particular tractor called a winch which is a very heavy machine. If it pulls sugarcane through your farm, it destroys the road. This means we will recreate our infrastructure in the area. More importantly, we are providing cheap access of funds to the farmer. Today, in the sugar industry, unlike the tea and coffee sector, we do not have anywhere a farmer can go to for funding unless to a commercial bank which is very exorbitant in terms of interest rates thus unaffordable. But by providing money for sugarcane development, money from which millers can also tap into when they want to improve on their machinery is an improvement. The most difficult aspect of sugarcane farming is the organisation of the farmer. Many times, when I have had discussions with Members of this House, the question has been how we can ensure our farmers are well-organised. In this mediated version of the Bill, we realise that farmers are empowered. We have even provided for a farmer's organisation. This means that the voice of the farmer will be heard. This Bill is progressive to a level that, during discussions, we allowed where a private miller wants representation of farmers to their board, it will be done. Why is it necessary that this House fast-tracks this mediated version of the Bill? It is because we have a haemorrhage of the sugarcane farmer in Lugari; the sugarcane farmer in Migori is crying, and the sugarcane farmer in Kisumu is worried about the price. The price is so unstable that every month you have a new price. This Bill provides for a pricing mechanism which is the stakeholder's. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}