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{
"id": 1501938,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501938/?format=api",
"text_counter": 140,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
"slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
},
"content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, 90 or 99 per cent of Nandi County which I represent, depends on an agricultural economy. More than 6.5 million farmers were given fertilizer and this season, we have harvested more than two million bags of 90 kilograms of maize. We thank the President for this subsidized fertilizer; which when he took over was Kshs7,000, but now it is Kshs2,500. Those of us who are farmers know the pain of acquiring farm inputs. The biggest challenge is the issue of fuel. I am happy the cost of fuel continues to come down. The cost of farm inputs, pesticides, and acaricides that we use in farming are still quite high. I hope the President will look into it. I heard my brother talking about how vested we are. I am happy that the President has directed that National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) be open. We are selling a 90 kilogramme bag of maize at Kshs3,500. As farmers, we expected the price to be between Kshs4,500 to Kshs5,000. We should be selling a 50 kilogramme bag of maize, just like any other cereal such as ndengu, rice or beans. I will bring an amendment that going into the future, we shall not be selling our maize at 90 kilogramme, but at 50 kilogramme. Secondly, I agree that we need to do a mop-up of the maize that has been harvested in our region, especially in Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties and the rest of the country. My only request to the national and county governments is to ensure the last-mile distribution of fertilizer, so that a farmer who is in Kamalambo can pick it in Maraba, or somebody who is in Kipyaor can pick it somewhere nearer. This will give them access going into the future. Even somebody who is in Chepterwai should be able to pick it within instead of coming all the way to Selia, Kabiyet or Kaiboi. On the issue of sugarcane, I am happy that almost 90 per cent of Nandi County is growing sugarcane. I was one of the members who served in the mediation. We agreed to re-establish the Kenyan Sugar Board (KSB). I am happy that the Sugar Act has been signed into law. One of the problems that we were facing with the sugarcane farmers was the issue of maintenance of roads. We agreed that all sales money will go to the KSB instead of counties. For example, Nandi County is a bastion of corruption being presided by Governor Sang. The road that comes all the way from Kabyemet, Chemnoyet, Lolgeringet, all the way to Kapchumo in Masapsap is impassable. This is similar to other roads within Nandi County such as those in Chemelil-Chemase, others in Taunet, in Tinderet, among many other areas. On sugar pricing where we are having issues of tonnage, I am happy that with this, we will be able to ban imports. Remember the issue of sugar import was becoming a den of corruption, especially through the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC). The issue of farming continues to be resilient. Regarding the tea sector, in Nandi County, we received the lowest bonus of Kshs23, which was less Kshs20, while other regions, which I do not want to name, were receiving up to Kshs60 bonus. We hope going into the future, we shall harmonize the issue of tea bonuses, so that farmers in Nandi Hills, Cheptinting, Lolduka, including Kosoywa even in Aldai and Mosop will be standardized. I think the entire Nandi County is planting tea. 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."
}