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{
    "id": 2249,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2249/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 281,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Chanzu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 11,
        "legal_name": "Yusuf Kifuma Chanzu",
        "slug": "yusuf-chanzu"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to support this very important Motion. In the first instance, I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate the Member for Ikolomani, Dr. Khalwale, for bringing this Motion because we have repeatedly said that agriculture is the backbone of this country. We cannot talk about agriculture without talking about tea and coffee because these have been the top foreign exchange earners in this country. This is particularly immediately after independence until a few years back when I think the Government neglected its role in supporting small-scale tea and coffee farmers. It is after this that production of these crops started declining. The issue that is being addressed here, particularly for tea, has to do with the small-scale farmers who relate with the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and not the individuals. I heard some Members say last week that we cannot support farmers, as a whole, especially private tea farmers. So, this relates to those farmers who deal with the KTDA. Tea and Coffee, as I have said, are supposed to be the major and tangible foreign exchange earners, save for fluctuating world market prices which, occasionally, are chaotic. However, we should encourage more farming in tea and coffee. Our tea and coffee are of the highest quality in the world market. If we did so, then we will definitely make enough earnings which will then translate into enabling our small scale farmers to live a decent life."
}