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{
    "id": 1489992,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1489992/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 137,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 170,
        "legal_name": "Bonny Khalwale",
        "slug": "bonny-khalwale"
    },
    "content": "The next important thing that members of the public should rejoice is on the issue of the re-establishment of the Sugar Board. The Sugar Board, before it was removed by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) law, was responsible for regulation of this industry and everybody was a winner. Since it went away, we have had problem after problem and we are glad that it is back and this Bill gives it the responsibility to regulate, develop and promote the sugar industry. Secondly, the Board will be expected to coordinate the activities of the value chain actors within this important industry. Finally, facilitate equitable access to the benefits and resources of the industry by all interested parties. The other cardinal issue that has been captured by this Bill is the issue of establishment of a special institute for technology and research. The world is changing in terms of climate change, acidity and alkalinity of our soils, which without technology coming out of this research institute, then we cannot continue getting quality sugar and bumper harvest as is expected. The institute is supposed to promote, coordinate and regulate research in the sugar crop and sugar pie products using sugar technologies and management practises. It is expected that this institute will be able to expedite equitable access to research information, resources, sugar technologies, and innovations. As I support this, I want to specifically go to where the law provides that this institute will have an opportunity to provide grants to institutions or persons desirous of carrying out research and training programmes, which are consistent with the national research priorities and plans of the institute. I have in mind Masinde University of Science and Technology and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University in Kisumu. I have no doubt that our professors in the Department of Agriculture will have a new actor who they can partner with, so as to support university research for this to be even a greater success. Madam Temporary Speaker, I want to speak to the important issue of Sugar Development Fund. This Act establishes a Sugar Development Fund. What is critical in it is something we used to have which has been killed, called the Sugar Development Levy. This levy was money deducted according to your tonnage, from the farmers produced. It was supposed to go and develop the sugar industry and that money, because it runs into hundreds of millions of shillings, this law has been carefully crafted, that of this sugar development levy, 15 per cent will be set aside for purposes of factory development. Sometimes factories abuse the pricing because they are challenged with development. Instead of them running to the bank, they have an access to a percentum of 15 per cent that they can use to do small repairs in the factory. Madam Temporary Speaker, 15 per cent will be applied for research and training in the institute that I spoke to at the beginning and 40 per cent, the lump sum is meant for cane development and productivity enhancement. Therefore, 15 per cent of this will be applied for infrastructure development, including the feeder roads, bridges, and so on. The 10 per cent will be applied for the administration at the board to take care of the salaries and allowances of employees and members of the board. Finally, five per cent shall be used for furtherance of functions of sugarcane farmers' organisation. This is very important. 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."
}