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{
    "id": 1556542,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556542/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 200,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Economic planning and managing the National Treasury sometimes require two sets of skills and expertise. Perhaps, it is time for the President, when considering a cabinet reorganization, to establish an independent national economic planning department or ministry. This department would be separate from the National Treasury, focusing on overseeing the granary to ensure that all inputs are accounted for and all outputs are traceable. Another subject discussed at this Forum was the goal to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Three weeks ago, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development appeared before this House, and we posed a question to him about the country's current agricultural policy. He confessed that he is still working on it. How can a country, where 33 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from the agricultural sector—leave alone the other linkages that contribute to employment across the economy—operate without a clear agricultural policy? For nearly eight years, the Agriculture and Food Authority operated without a proper board and a director general. It was only last year that this was finally formalized. The sector-specific regulations have not been brought to this House. I am happy that this House processed the amendments to the Statutory Instruments Act that provides timelines and stiff penalties to cabinet secretaries or regulatory-making entities that delay in making regulations. Agriculture is too important to be left on autopilot. The agricultural policy in this country, save for a few sectors like tea, which has been relatively well-managed due to minimal Government interference, largely relies on God. In essence, we are at the mercy of God. While we often speak of improved productivity, the reality is that it all comes down to rainfall. Not too long ago, I saw some top leaders going to church and thanking God for answering their prayers. They claimed that they were responsible for the rains that fell on the nation and increased food production. We cannot run a country in this kind of contemporary economy in a global setup by going through those kind of superstitious and backward beliefs that they are the ones who prayed for rain. It is as if prayer for rain is a preserve of just a few people. Successful economies have invested in things that go beyond the act of God. They invest in improved seed and fertiliser. There is no reason why this country continues to import blended fertiliser, when not too long ago, Toyota was supposed to set up a plant in Uasin Gishu for blending fertiliser. Let us ask ourselves, what is so special about fertiliser that stops us from getting phosphates from Morocco or getting raw materials from other parts of the globe and blending it so that we have something that is fit for climatic conditions? Just a week ago, we learned that even donations given to us in good faith are being blended, repackaged and sold at a profit yet, we turn around and call this our agricultural policy. As long as we are approaching agriculture from a perspective of tokenism and prayer, then it will continue to run on autopilot. The sectors that, perhaps, are growing are those where the Government has no hands. For example, the horticulture producers, where we have got the large scale producers in places like Narok--- 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."
}