Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 194808,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/194808/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 150,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. ole Metito",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Regional Development Authorities",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 199,
        "legal_name": "Judah Katoo Ole-Metito",
        "slug": "judah-ole-metito"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I was talking about the need to write off the AFC loans owed by both crop and livestock farmers. Farmers lost a lot of livestock last year due to Rift Valley Fever. Right now, there is another disease which is killing a lot of livestock. Our livestock was our security against which the AFC gave us loans. The underlying factor of repayment of AFC loans is the weather condition. The weather condition has affected both crop and livestock farmers. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is also the issue of allocation. Nowadays, the Government allocates money to AFC regional offices based on farmers' repayments. Every regional office is given back 90 per cent of the money it collects from farmers. Therefore, there is a likelihood of AFC officers on the ground harassing loanees, so that they can collect more money and raise their allocations. The issue of increase in prices of farm inputs and livestock has been mentioned. Livestock May 7, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 877 farmers took AFC loans when the price of a cow was Kshs10,000, which has now doubled to Kshs20,000, due to inflation. Inflation has affected all sectors of the economy. So, it will not be possible for such farmers to repay the loans as agreed on when they took the loans. In conclusion, I would like to urge the Government to take this House's recommendation seriously once we pass this Motion. I have no doubt that this Motion will be passed. Once it sails through, it will be incumbent upon the Government to implement it immediately and write off the AFC loans owed by farmers. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}