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{
    "id": 202062,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/202062/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 354,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. J. M. Mutiso",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 273,
        "legal_name": "John Mutinda Mutiso",
        "slug": "mutinda-mutiso"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. First of all, let me thank the hon. Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Wekesa, for successfully bringing this Bill before this House. Biosafety issues have been very controversial. This country has never had a comprehensive framework on it. We have had ad hoc institutions which deal with these issues. I am actually part of the team which was invited by the International Services for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications to familiarise themselves with biotechnology issues. We came to find out that this country is one of those countries in the world which do not have a biosafety law. Right now, we have more than 22 countries in the world, including six in developing countries, which have a biosafety law. Therefore, this Bill is timely. Again, I would like also to congratulate the Government for increasing in this year's Budget the allocation for agriculture to beef up the setting up of the biosafety and biotechnology institutions to curb the biosafety issues in this sector. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, without much elaboration, this country has suffered chronic food shortages occasioned by lack of appropriate technologies. Once this policy framework is put in place, I think we shall be able to feed our people and also enter into the international arena of competition as far as food surplus is concerned. This country has been importing enormous amounts of food and agricultural products because of competitiveness as far as productivity is concerned. A Biosafety law will be able to actually open up the institution for investors to come in and for people to engage in productive capacities. Therefore, this Bill is timely. I truly believe that our competent Departmental Committee on Education, Research and Technology whose report has been tabled before this House will be able to guide this House when it comes to the Committee Stage. With those few remarks, I beg to second."
}