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{
    "id": 245066,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/245066/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 196,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Were",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Information and Communications",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 153,
        "legal_name": "David Aoko Were",
        "slug": "david-were"
    },
    "content": " Mr. 1798 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 4, 2006 Chairman, thank you for giving me this chance to contribute to this Motion. At the outset, I support the Motion except for two issues on which I differ. I represent sugar-cane farmers and of late sugar- cane growing has become unprofitable. With the change in the Sugar Development Levy (SDL) which requires that sugar-cane farmers pay 7 per cent on the gross amount payable to them, the farmers are going to lose more income. Mr. Chairman, Sir, if we look at the recent increase of fuel prices, where Kshs3.20 was levied per litre, you will realise that most pump prices have gone up by between Kshs5 and Kshs7. This is an increase of about 8 per cent on the cost of fuel. You will realise that the net income for farmers from sugar-cane, after deducting ploughing, transporting and harvesting costs, is minimal. Mr. Chairman, Sir, with the increase in the price of fuel, transportation, harvesting and ploughing costs for sugar-cane will go up. It is likely that the amount might increase by about 15 per cent. So, this is an amount which the sugar-cane farmer is going to be paying or lose from his income. The sugar-cane farmers' income has been decreasing every year, and with another increase of 7 per cent and a further reduction because of the increase of fuel prices, I foresee a problem with the income from sugar-cane. Mr. Chairman, Sir, I have heard the Assistant Minister for Finance say that the SDL that has been paid before has not been coming to the farmers, but the question is: What guarantee do we have that this time this amount will benefit the farmers? It would be my opinion that whatever reason that has made this change come should be looked at so that even if it was still to be deducted directly from the cane producers, then the amount of 7 per cent should be reviewed. I believe that since we have between now and 1st January, we should sit down and consult widely so that we come up with a proper percentage."
}