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{
    "id": 2259,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2259/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 291,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Njuguna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 20,
        "legal_name": "Peter Njuguna Gitau",
        "slug": "peter-gitau"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is, therefore, important that we think of how to revive this key sector by way of supporting the farmers. One way of supporting the farmers is to bring the Government on board and make sure that those products that farmers use, like the seeds and fertilizers are made available in the market at cheaper prices. We recall that we passed a Motion in this House requesting the Government to start a fertilizer factory immediately. This is very important because it will assist this country to become self-sufficient in food production and on this main cash crop. It is, therefore, important and critical for the Government to come out now and bail out the small-scale farmers who are now crying. If the Government can support the farmers by writing-off the loans that have been advanced to them, it will really create the necessary working environment and bring back the productivity of this crop. As a result, the farmers will be able to educate their children. Tea has been a key cash crop, as I have said. Lari, in particularly, we have large areas where small-scale farmers have been growing tea. We do not want them to think about uprooting tea plants in these areas, the way the coffee farmers did as a result of the Coffee Board of Kenya being unable to pay them. Therefore, the threat that is directed to the small-scale tea farmers must be addressed by the Government. This is the time for the Government to rise up and release a lot of money to bail out the farmers. I would urge that decisive action is taken by the Government to make sure that this industry is brought back to its feet. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other area that I need to comment on is about tea hawking. This is also threatening the survival of the Kenya Tea Development (KTD) factories. We have seen small-scale tea farmers divert their tea to private processors. This is unhealthy because the farmers are trying to run away from their responsibilities after being advanced loans. This must be discouraged and the farmers supported to deliver their tea to the KTDA factories. This will only be possible if the Government can avail the required funds. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I fully support this crucial Motion."
}