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"id": 194835,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/194835/?format=api",
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Wamalwa",
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"speaker": {
"id": 148,
"legal_name": "Eugene Ludovic Wamalwa",
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"content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. I am very grateful to the Assistant Minister for supporting this Motion and for confirming to the House that the Motion, if passed, will receive the attention of the Ministry. They will look into it. I would like to impress upon the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, the gravity of the situation. The food crisis facing this country is not only a national problem but also a global crisis. I would wish that the Government takes this issue seriously. I would also like to thank hon. ole Metito for actually bringing to the attention of the House that, apart from the post-election violence that caused famine in regions of the Rift Valley Province and other areas, there were also issues of drought that affected other regions. I wish to support his amendments by saying that any farmer anywhere in this part of the Republic must be supported whether affected by violence, inflation, middlemen, importers or high cost of fertilisers that have affected this country, that farmer whether affected by drought must be given the necessary support. That way, they can produce more food to avert the food crisis which is facing this country. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would also like to thank the hon. Chanzu for raising a very crucial issue that, indeed, in previous Parliaments when the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) loans were written off, there was the issue of those who were able to pay such as the large-scale farmers, who service AFC loans not being excluded. Indeed, it is important that, if there would be any relief, those who can afford to service their loans be excluded. But the small- scale farmer who is completely afflicted by the vagaries of weather and the high cost of inputs should be assisted. I need to disclose the fact that I am also one of the farmers affected. I am from an area that has been affected. I am also a customer of the AFC. But for us in this House and other parties that can actually afford to service our loans, we must do our part. The beneficiaries should be those small-scale farmers who actually deserve help. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would also like to thank hon. Mungatana for raising a very crucial issue, which I hope the Assistant Minister will pick up. We have been having this problem regularly. We have been writing off these loans regularly. But it is about time that the Government came up with a disaster fund where in situations like these, the Government can fall back on this fund to support the afflicted farmers. This should be done urgently to address May 7, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 885 situations like the one we are facing currently where this nation is tipping into the national food reserves. It is very worrying to know that we only have about two or three months to go before our strategic grain reserves run out. It is a scary situation to imagine. I am glad that yesterday the President addressed this issue by urging that the strategic grain reserves be increased from the current four million bags to eight million bags to ensure national food security. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I am also very grateful to your contributions that, indeed, we need a national master plan for our national food security. As we stand now, what we need is really a marshal plan to encourage our farmers by not only giving them incentives but also putting money into their pockets after writing off their debts. We need to mobilise our farmers to produce more food. This must be done as a matter of urgency. So, the Government must go the extra mile to ensure that this is done. I think it is also important to address the issue of middlemen and importers who ripped-off farmers. The Government should have a policy in place to ensure that there is a long-term solution to the problem of high cost of fertiliser. I think, these are options that the Government needs to look at, in order to cushion our farmers. As hon. Jirongo said, the Kenya farmer is totally exposed to the vagaries of weather, the high cost of fertiliser and we need to do something to protect the Kenyan farmer. In Europe and America, the farmer is a very protected person through subsidies and other support from the Government. We need that to be done here in Kenya as well. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I am very grateful that Members have supported this Motion. I urge that the same be passed. The Government should take the necessary remedial measures to ensure that the farmer is assisted especially in view of the crisis that this country is now facing. As I conclude, I would like to impress the point on interest rates. The AFC has been lending loans to farmers at 10 per cent interest rate. In fact, it is about time that something was done to ensure that these loans advanced to farmers are actually more affordable. We have been told of Equity Bank availing similar credit facilities at 10 per cent, the rate at which AFC is lending. But we believe that with proper arrangements, these monies, if sourced from more affordable sources, a farmer can afford to pay 5 per cent instead of 10 per cent, if the Government intervenes and works on the interest rates. With those few remarks, I wish to thank all Members for supporting this Motion. I also wish to thank the Assistant Minister for supporting this Motion and promising that the Government will look into these issues. Apart from the issue of financing, there are other issues which were raised by Members to do with boosting of productivity through research and irrigation. I hope the Ministry will take up these issues to enhance production and ensure national food security. With those few remarks, I beg to Move."
}