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{
    "id": 2260,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2260/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 292,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ms. Mbarire",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Tourism",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 78,
        "legal_name": "Cecily Mutitu Mbarire",
        "slug": "cecily-mbarire"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I want to begin by first congratulating Dr. Khalwale for coming up with this very important Motion. I support this Motion because I come from a tea- growing area. Part of the reason why I got educated to university level was because my father had tea and was able to have enough money to pay school fees for me through his tea farm. This Motion is timely because only recently have we seen that the prices of tea have gone fairly high. Farmers are finally beginning to have hope that they can do the things they have always wanted to do using money from tea. Looking at this Motion, I feel that it is very important that the Government steps in and waives all the loans owed by the public coffee and tea factories that we have. I have two of them in my constituency. I think that once that money is paid, farmers will reap greater gains out of their tea farming and can do a lot with their money. Although the crop has more money than it used to – for example in my place, tea farmers were being paid an average of between Kshs40 and Kshs41 per kilogramme - you will find that they will be deducted up to Kshs10 per kilogramme for these loans. Since I am aware that the same Government is waiving debts owed by coffee factories, then it is good that we deal with the whole burden on both coffee and tea farmers so that they are left debt-free. By doing so, we can begin to spur economic growth from the bottom. If this is done, I believe that we will not even have the pressure as Members of Parliament where we have to pay bursaries for many children at the constituency because the farmers cannot afford school fees. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I remember when I was in secondary school, every beginning of the term, I passed by the tea factory, got my cheque, went and paid my fees. However, this is not happening now and it cannot happen. Some of these debts are incurred because of high prices of farm inputs. For example, fertilizer is very expensive. The farmers borrow money to buy that fertilizer and have to pay it back with an interest. If we can waive these loans, I strongly believe that this is the best Christmas gift that we can give to the farmers of this country. I really urge the Government to hear us on this matter. We have spoken about it before but I am happy that, finally, an hon. Member has brought it on the Floor. I urge all hon. Members present to support this very important Motion. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support"
}