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"id": 244529,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Khamisi",
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"speaker": {
"id": 246,
"legal_name": "Joseph Matano Khamisi",
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"content": "Without legislation, the industry is threatened with collapse, because of declining cashew nut production. Farmers have been discouraged from producing cashew nuts because of the low prices and lack of goodwill from the Government. It is time for the Government to pay more attention to this crop, so that the country can earn more money in terms of foreign exchange. We need the introduction of new variety of seeds that mature rapidly. This should be done by the Government in this sector. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, neighbouring countries like Mozambique and Tanzania which are big producers of cashew nuts have come up with legislation. That is the reason why they have made great strides in the agriculture of cashew nuts. We do realise that there are constraints in production, processing and marketing. Because of this, we need an Act of Parliament to regulate and promote the quality, marketing and export of raw and processed cashew nuts. We also need this legislation to license buyers and exporters of raw and processed cashew nuts, and operators of factories. We also need it to regulate the issuing of export permits, establishing quality standards for cashew nuts and protecting farmers from exploitation by middle men. Finally, we need this legislation to promote research on high-yielding and fast-maturing varieties, among other things. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in putting into place this legislation, a board will have to be established. This board will deal with the production, processing and marketing of the product, both locally and overseas. Also, this board which we hope will be under the Ministry of Agriculture, will not be very different from the boards that have been created for coffee and tea, for the simple reason that all the referred products are actually export commodities. We expect that through this legislation and the board that will be established, registration and regulation of growers will be done. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there will also be management of roasting, peeling and grading of factories. In addition, there will also be licensing of marketing agents, packers and warehouse men. We also expect that there will be licensing of factories and exporters. It is also expected that this board will offer advisory services to the Government, so that it is fully aware of what happens in this industry in terms of farming and processing of the product. The board will take over from unscrupulous middle men who have been exploiting our people. By having a board, the farmers will then have an opportunity of selling their products to it. It will then control the prices of the commodity both locally and overseas. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is expected that, through this legislation, the board will have the powers of cancelling any permit if the holder does not comply with the terms and conditions that have been laid down. The board will be the management body of the industry. I believe that the motion which I am trying to move today will give an opportunity to growers to increase their production and for co-operative societies to be empowered and strengthened, so that they can sell this product effectively. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for the sake of the development of the industry, I also propose, through this Motion, to have a Cashew Nut Development Fund. This Fund will consist of the Cashew Nut Development Levy and any funds that have been provided by bilateral and 1814 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 5, 2006 multilateral donors for the purpose of the Fund. It will also manage the funds that are voted by this Parliament. I believe this legislation is important and due now. I hope this House will give this Motion full support. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am very disappointed by the fact that both this Government and the previous one have paid little attention to the production of this crop. The fact that the Government has not found it fit to enact legislation in the past 40 years of Independence, speaks volumes about the goodwill and commitment of this country to agriculture in Coast Province. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have co-operative societies in Malindi, Lamu, Kilifi and Kwale which have died because of the fact that there has been no push from the Government on this matter. I expect that once this legislation is passed, there will be an opportunity for these co-operative societies to emerge and be able to make an impact in terms of helping the people. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am also talking about elimination of poverty. Since the collapse of the Kilifi Factory, people in those regions that I have just mentioned have gone to a state of poverty; not only the farmers, but the families that are there. Kilifi was a booming town at some point because of this crop. However, it has now declined in growth because the main cash crop which is cashew nuts, has not been able encouraged in a way that will sustain the economy of that area. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not have much more to add. As I said, this is a very straightforward Motion. It seeks to give us power to legislate and be able to manage the affairs of this sector the same way the country has managed the other sectors in the economy. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to Move the Motion and ask the Member of Parliament for Lamu West Constituency to second it."
}