Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 194826,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/194826/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 168,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Ruto",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Farming has become a terrible business, yet we all need food; we cannot operate without it, but the poor farmer has to bear the cost of feeding us. In my constituency, there are over 500 farmers, who are now under very serious threat of their properties being auctioned. They took loans the other day when they were expected to plant and be able to repay. This was not possible because of the violence and several other factors. We expect the Ministry of Agriculture to also put its act together. For example, at the moment, seeds are very expensive. One kilogramme of seeds is sold for about Kshs130, yet a kilogramme of maize is purchased by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) at about Kshs10. We cannot understand how Kenya Seed Company multiplies the cost of seed until the farmers are unable to purchase it. I wish to ask that the Government actually implements the resolution of this House today to write off the AFC loans. I also wish to request the Ministry that, while it is in the process of writing off these loans, according to the resolution of this House, it should stop any further charges on interest on these May 7, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 883 loans. They should also immediately suspend any further harassment of farmers. The AFC is busy rounding up properties belonging to farmers at the moment. I hope that the Ministry concerned will stop it immediately. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, furthermore, there has been lopsided support to farmers. The Government has written off loans, or has provided money to pay off debts, in the coffee and pyrethrum sectors, but the milk farmers are being auctioned, because the New Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KCC) was unable to pay for the deliveries from farmers. I want to request the Ministry of Agriculture to consider paying the farmers who were unable to realise payments from the defunct KCC, especially now that the Government has taken over. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}