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{
"id": 244566,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/244566/?format=api",
"text_counter": 137,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Kaindi",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Agriculture",
"speaker": {
"id": 267,
"legal_name": "Peter Kyalo Kaindi",
"slug": "peter-kaindi"
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"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me join hon. Members from both sides of the House who have contributed so eloquently. They have highlighted issues that are so important to the people they represent. Those issues deal with the development of the nuts sector. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when I came into the Chamber, I was a little bit apprehensive because the original Motion dealt with cashew nuts only. However, the proposed amendment allayed my fears. As a Ministry, the policy is to develop an umbrella legislation that will address various crops in their totality. In this particular case, we want to assure the House that, as a Ministry, we fully support the initiative that has been brought by the hon. Member. We fully support the efforts that my Ministry is making to revive the entire nut sector. We recognise that, without sufficient legislation and caveats, it will not be possible to jump-start that sub-sector. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ministry, through the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), has intensified research on various forms of nut development. With regard to cashew nut, we have intensified research into better agronomical practices. A while ago, people from Coast Province thought cashew nuts and palm oil were wild crops. However, now, through our Ministry staff--- I am saying that because I visited Coast Province in the last one month. I toured Ganze and areas of Kwale. Efforts are being made to introduce better agronomical practices, so that farmers can reap benefits from their crops. We saw significant efforts and better yields in those areas. There are also training centres to train farmers on better farming methods. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to caution that, as a Government, we are aware that Kilifi Cashew Nut Factory was destroyed. As a Member of one of the Committees of this House, Parliament passed a recommendation that those who defrauded shares belonging to farmers from that factory be prosecuted. We want the Attorney-General to move with speed and implement that recommendation. Parliament passed and endorsed that those who defrauded farmers in Kilifi by taking away their shares and privatising them be prosecuted. They caused the factory to be closed and threw the entire sub-sector into disarray. The Government is very firm! It is not fair for a few individuals to frustrate the efforts of poor farmers. On the area of palm oil, research at KARI has now developed highland palm oil. In Bungoma, there are test-trials to start palm oil production. In fact, the initial trials have proved quite successful. We do not want to concentrate in Coast Province only. We want to extend that important sub-sector to other areas. Inquiries from private investors have significantly shown that there is demand for palm oil all over Asia. We need to encourage our farmers to take advantage of that initiative. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as a Ministry, we are also aware that farmers continue July 5, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1827 to suffer through pricing. We hope that the hon. Member will consult with the Ministry, so that we package a Bill and pass a law that will stand the test of time. It should be a law that is strong enough to ensure that our farmers benefit. A month ago, we launched an activity called Kenya Agricultural Productivity Programme (KAPP). Some of the districts that have benefited include Kilifi and Kwale. It is a new area which targets research, value addition and pricing mechanisms. It also looks at the entire sub-sector. We hope that the people of Kwale and Kilifi will take advantage of that new programme, so that they can improve their farming. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to assure hon. Members that, through the new initiative on the revival of agriculture, we are putting more money into the districts than never before. That will enable our field officers to address the problems that are facing our farmers. If you tour the entire coast region, most of those crops have been neglected because of pricing. However, through the Njaa Marufuku Initiative - a programme to interact with farmers in the villages - we have intensified funding. We have given money to KARI to undertake research. We have also facilitated our district agricultural officers to perform their duties. Therefore, more money is being pumped into those areas. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are looking at the entire legislation. There are over 100 pieces of legislation dealing with various sectors of agriculture. We have a team in the Ministry which, with the support of the private sector, is looking at the entire spectrum of legal provisions that govern agricultural productivity. We think that, once we finalise that exercise, we will be able to address the issues that concern farming in those areas. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, allow me to thank hon. Members who have supported the Budget, particularly in the area of agriculture. When you look at the Financial Statement, there was a substantial increase. But it is not enough. As a Ministry, we need more money for research. The money that was allocated to us is not enough. We also take cognisance of the views that were expressed by the Minister for Finance. It is not possible to reduce the number of vehicles for field staff. We need our officers to move and visit farmers. We urge the Minister for Finance to do a reallocation, so that critical areas which touch on farmers can be addressed sufficiently. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we need to have our hands on the farmer. We need to have enough extension officers. Our hon. Members should tell us whether this is happening on the ground. That will not be possible if our officers do not have the necessary means of transport. That is why we have changed the approach and have decided to provide every division with two motorcycles for the agricultural extension officers. Every district should be given three to four vehicles, so that our officers can move around. We cannot promote agriculture while our officers are sitting in their officers. We recognise the fact that the Extension Services Department needs more officers. We have asked the Directorate of Personnel Management and the Public Service Commission to allow us to recruit more agricultural extension officers. Very many students have graduated from our research institutions and yet our farmers are suffering. Therefore, I would like to call upon the House to support the Bill when it is brought here, so that more money can be allocated to this sector, so that we can recruit more extension officers. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, through the strategy for revitalising agriculture in response to the Millennium Development Goals, structural, we recognise the fact that unless agriculture, which is the mainstay of the people of the Republic of Kenya, is revamped and improved, it will not be possible to improve the livelihoods of our people. About two weeks ago, I was in Madrid and we were looking at an issue which has been raised by Prof. Anyang'-Nyong'o. This is how to deal with the patent rights to Kenyans. We were dealing with the study of a treaty to deal with plant genetics. How do we protect our plant materials 1828 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 5, 2006 from being pirated from this country? How can we ensure that we hold the property rights to some of these materials, which are indigenous to us? It is not right for any person to come from any part of the world, access our materials and commercialise them without the benefits accruing to the people of this Republic. Therefore, through the Treaty on Plant Genetics that was passed in Madrid, it will be possible, through legislation, to ensure that if any material has been commercialised, the benefits also trickle down to the country that originated that material. The provisions of that Treaty will ensure that in issues like what we saw in Baringo where our materials were being pirated, our people are duly compensated. As a Ministry, we are developing a policy of ensuring that we consolidate the legislations and give this country a better environment, so that our farmers can benefit. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, while supporting the Motion, I would like to urge the Mover to consult with us, so that finally, the Bill that is brought here, its provisions will be easier for the Ministry to implement. We need to look at all the financial implications and factor in the required amount of money, so that this Authority can become a reality. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}