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{
"id": 244549,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/244549/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Tarus",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Local Government",
"speaker": {
"id": 315,
"legal_name": "Stephen Kipkiyeny Tarus",
"slug": "stephen-tarus"
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this chance. I would like to support the amendment to have an authority that will facilitate the development of a policy across the board with regard to this particular sector. Cashew nut is a particular crop. We have many other crops, or other nuts, that we should also consider developing for purposes of improving this sector. When we have a properly- July 5, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1823 formulated framework, we will be able to address some of the pertinent issues with regard to poverty alleviation and revitalisation of the economy. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to thank the hon. Member who came up with this Motion because, for a long time, we have been wondering what we will do in Kenya so that the economic development that we talk about every day, can have a meaning to the people at the grassroots level. Every day we are told that the poverty level in Kenya stands at above 56 per cent. More often, when we talk about improved economic growth, the question that crops up in the mind of the common man is: \"Where is this improvement?\" I think the answer lies in the identification of the real economic activity that involves our people. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this particular sector has been developed before. I think there was a cashew nut factory in the Coast Province. That is why those leaders who participated in bringing down these industries should not have the audacity to stand before us and say that they want to develop those same industries. That is where we part ways when it comes to how this country should be developed. That aside, I would like to support this Motion for purposes of having some regulation in this sector, to give guidelines on how it will be managed now and in the future. Without proper guidelines, tomorrow we might have a similar situation like the one we have had in the past. The same people who ran down the economy in the past are still there and they want to come back and do the same thing again. I hope that when we develop these regulations, we will have a mechanism of ensuring that they are properly implemented. Together with the laws that we have passed on ethics and governance, we hope that they will function to ensure that these sectors are protected. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the economy of this country relies on agriculture. Consistent implementation of laws and introduction of frameworks to make various sectors vibrant will stabilise our economy. I hope that the proposed Bill will be passed and enacted very fast so that we can revitalise this sector and make sure that poverty is eliminated. Some countries like Thailand have introduced the so-called, \"One sample, one product\". This means, one location, one product. They hold competitions from the location to the national level. Since they implemented that programme, today, they have more than 100,000 types of products which are now being exported to other countries. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as soon as we develop this framework, we would like such authorities to be funded for purposes of creating local competition and innovation, in order to make sure that we own that innovation. If our people bring about that innovation, we should help them to patent those products that they will have come up with. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am sure that we can make our economy the best competitor internationally, if we get our issues right rather than allowing ourselves to be exploited by letting our economy be flooded with products from other countries. I hope that the proposed Authority will be established immediately because that sector is the backbone of many people, particularly in the Coast and many other areas. The proposed Authority should explore the other potential areas where the crop can be grown in order to alleviate poverty. The rural economies should also be addressed. The rural economies have been brought down on their knees with the advent of liberalization. The Government should provide a framework to make sure that the people who produce in the rural areas are protected in order to develop products that will boost their economies. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC). If you look at its products, you will find that they are very narrow; that is, they target maize, seasonal crops and dairy farming. We should know that agriculture is a broad sector. The AFC should develop products that assist farmers to develop their crops. If a cashewnut farmer goes to the AFC now, he will realise that the corporation does not have a loan facility that targets 1824 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 5, 2006 cashewnut farmers. This is the case, and yet it is very important for every established organisation to ensure improved productivity. Therefore, the proposed Authority should target that particular product. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support the Motion as amended."
}