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"id": 201696,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Sambu",
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"speaker": {
"id": 137,
"legal_name": "Alfred B. Wekesa Sambu",
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"content": "Thank you for your support, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. You see, Rivatex was even supporting people like our good Temporary Deputy Speaker here when he was working for the insurance sector. When this factory opens its doors, it will support a lot of other 4336 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES October 3, 2007 industries and not necessarily those people working in the factory. However, it all ends up with us, Kenyans, being able to produce good quality cotton in volumes which can be economical to the farmer whether he is in Busia, Bungoma, Kwale or other low altitude areas which receive good amounts of rain to support the growing of cotton. Farmers in those areas will not leave stocking cattle or growing bananas or cassava to grow cotton, if it does not pay well. If we grow cotton seed which produces good quality cotton, then farmers will shift to it and they will make money. If people make money, they will not care whether it is by growing maize or cassava. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we need to really direct our efforts to producing cotton even if it is genetically modified. People should not care even if it is said that the cotton is genetically modified. They should not get scared about it because cotton does not get into your body. However, as I said before, I have seen in the USA and other areas where livestock is genetically modified and with proper feeding, it grows within--- There are other factors to be applied. It is not only modifying genetically. You have to put in other factors. That is why, even for cotton, if we have to produce a genetically modified variety of cotton that will produce high yields, there are also other agronomical factors that you need to apply. For instance, you have to put in fertiliser and proper agronomical methods so that the crop can produce a high quality yield. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have to help our farmers to get involved in other crops, like sunflower. This is a crop that can produce high quality oil, which can be used to produce fuel for warming houses and even driving vehicles. I feel that we should do something about crops such as sunflower. There are other several crops, even if genetically modified, which will improve the production in our fields, for example the fuel oils. What my friend referred to earlier on, that is, Eucalyptus plant, which grows in about five or six years to 200 feet and are quite thick, these trees are as strong as any other Eucalyptus tree. This type of tree was developed here. In fact, it is not even genetically modified. I think it is as a result of cross-breeding or hybridisation. We should, therefore, encourage our people to get involved in producing better quality crops and animals. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to support this Bill by saying that we should not just condemn methods of improving, including biodiversity because it is not all wrong. It helps farmers and improves the quality of life of animals and people. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}