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{
"id": 1546381,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1546381/?format=api",
"text_counter": 150,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Wundanyi, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Danson Mwashako",
"speaker": null,
"content": "subsidy programme, which we have been running, has been consuming substantial resources, but still faces numerous challenges. Every budget year, billions of shillings are allocated to this fertiliser subsidy programme, but there are many issues that bedevil the programme. Farmers continue to suffer due to delays in fertiliser distribution. These delays disrupt farming cycles and undermine agricultural productivity. Although the Government claims that the subsidy has improved food production, as the President recently talked of how much we produce, concerns remain. This planting season, some farmers have yet to receive fertiliser despite the season nearing its end. The sustainability of fertiliser subsidies is questionable, and we cannot continue relying on them. Its sustainability raises a lot of questions. We ask ourselves: For how long are we going to subsidise fertiliser? While the cost has been reduced from Ksh6,000 to Ksh2,500 per bag, we must ask: For how long can we sustain this subsidy? With constrained resources, continuous subsidisation is not viable. Over the past few years, the Government has spent more than Ksh50 billion on subsidies, an amount that could have been used to establish a fertiliser manufacturing plant. This Motion has come at the right time. Parliament must set clear timelines for implementation to ensure national food security. If we are to have food security as a country, we cannot continue relying on imported fertiliser. It exposes us to external disruptions, as seen during the post COVID-19 period and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which have significantly affected global supply chains. Kenya remains vulnerable to geopolitical tensions that impact fertiliser-producing countries such as China, Russia, and the United States. Across Africa, fertiliser manufacturing is concentrated in North Africa, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa. In our region, there are no major fertiliser producers, presenting Kenya with a significant market opportunity. With the East African region's population exceeding 250 million, local production would not only enhance our food security, but also create an export market, strengthening our economy. Food security is a global priority, and Kenya must take decisive action. I am happy that this Motion has been introduced by the new Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriation Committee. If we just talk without putting in resources, then nothing will come out of our discussion here. As we move towards tabling the 2025/2026 Budget, it is essential to allocate seed capital to support research, promote, and implement the idea we are discussing today. Without financial backing, this discussion will remain theoretical, with no tangible outcomes. I urge the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriation Committee to ensure that the Ministry of Agriculture secures the necessary funds to advance this initiative. Establishing a fertiliser manufacturing plant will guarantee food security, increase agricultural yields, and position Kenya as a leader in the regional market. We can improve the yields of our farmers by getting cheap fertiliser. At the same time, we can create employment for millions of our young people who are out there seeking for jobs, but are unable to get employment. I, therefore, support the Motion."
}