Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 194834,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/194834/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 176,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Ndambuki",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Agriculture",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 191,
        "legal_name": "Gideon Musyoka Ndambuki",
        "slug": "gideon-ndambuki"
    },
    "content": " Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, as I said, this is a very crucial Motion, and we should give it the importance it deserves. I cannot stand here and promise something that we cannot do as a Ministry. I am saying that I will take this matter to the Ministry, and we will see whether we could look for some more funds in the Ministry to assist in this. At the moment, as much as I would like use the term \"write-off\", I do not want to use it until we look at our Budget, and see what is happening. For example, at the moment, 884 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES May 7, 2008 we are restructuring the AFC to make it a better and viable. In fact, I am from the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI); we were meeting with all the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of all the parastatals under the Ministry. We were trying to find out how they can improve their operations, and how they can collect what they have given out and also sensitise their workers instead of them just remaining idle. So, the Ministry has started on a very high note. Yesterday, we launched the Kilimo-Biashara Initiative with Equity Bank, and some other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Other banks have been calling the Ministry, because they want to launch a similar deal. We are willing to do a similar thing for farming of vegetables, horticulture and so on. Yesterday's initiative was for only grains, that is, maize, wheat, beans and so on. We shall come up with other two banks, which will finance a similar project. The whole idea is to make sure that we give our farmers incentives, so that they could go back to their farms and do better farming. Initially, farming was done for the production of food, but now we want to change it and make it a business. That is why we are coming up with these projects. We are going to look at this, and see how we can help, but it is not something which we can do now. The Ministry has to assess what is involved in the write-off of the loans from the ADC and the AFC. If we say that we are going to do that wholesale, it is not going to be possible. There are some people who are capable and can service their loans, but we know that the small ones cannot do so. So, I would like to inform the House that we will look at this Motion and do what is necessary in our next Budget. I am sure the Ministry will communicate what action we will take. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}