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{
    "id": 1623560,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1623560/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 54,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Oketch Gicheru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I think my eyes were curious to speak. On a more serious note, I thank you and I want to make a quick comment on the statement by Sen. (Dr.) Murango. There is a big problem in terms of the price and mop-up of rice in our country. I hope that the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries will take this statement very seriously. I hope they will be able to look at the issues that are affecting farmers in Mwea with regards to the criteria and process that affects pricing of rice. I have seen this even in Migori County, where the farmers of Lower Kuja in Nyatike Constituency are working very hard. Today if you go to Lower Kuja, just the same way as people in Mwea, you will find that they have piles and piles of paddy that is not being bought, despite the fact that we have got a number of Government institutions that can first buy paddy and second can also buy rice. For instance, the deal that we have with the Kenyan National Trading Corporation (KNTC) is one that should be able to help these farmers to have their rice mopped up by the relevant institutions. Right now, the farmers in Nyatike have to sell their paddy to people who are coming from as far as Uganda, despite the fact that this rice is subsidized by our local resources here from Government. One of the biggest things that I hope that this committee will look at is quick payment to those farmers, because the delay of payment, when you go and give, for instance, your rice to the Kenyan National Trading Corporation and then they want to pay it three months later, when people who come from Uganda can come and pick it and pay a lower price, but pay immediately, it becomes a problem. So, the issue of payment is something that must be looked into. Most importantly also, we should look into the issue of the subsidy in the input for rice, not only in Mwea, but also for the people of Migori County who are producing rice. 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."
}