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{
    "id": 248388,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/248388/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 301,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Bett",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 157,
        "legal_name": "Franklin Kipng'etich Bett",
        "slug": "franklin-bett"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. When cotton farming failed to be expanded in this country, it occasioned a lot of losses in terms of factories collapsing and loss of employment. Many people who were employed in those factories became jobless and there was collapse of farms that were growing the crop. There was also loss of welfare to the families in various regions of this country. That has denied the Exchequer the much needed foreign exchange by way of exportation of what used to be our textile. This has caused many people to suffer. Mr. Speaker, Sir, apart from cotton giving lint, it also provides seed that is used in the manufacture of food and animal feeds. That has also not been available and we have had to import such products at a very high price. It is sad that our land is able to grow this crop for us to get raw materials for our local factories. Mr. Speaker, Sir, cotton is mainly used in the manufacture of clothes. I would not want to say that it was wrong to encourage the growth of the mitumba sector. It was not wrong to encourage the expansion of this sector, but it came up as a result of the collapse of the cotton industry. If we develop the cotton sector today, we will be able to service our factories so that we increase production. Every well dressed Kenyan usually buys clothes imported in this country. However, this country is in a position to manufacture clothes for local and export markets. The amount of land that is available in this country to grow cotton is in excess of one million hectares. Unfortunately, we are only able to produce 20,000 bales of cotton. Out of the one million hectares, we can produce 300,000 bales of cotton. This will be enough for local factories and export to other countries. There are factories located close to cotton farming areas. These factories should be revived to increase production. Mr. Speaker, Sir, importation of linen out of textile has been increasing at the rate of 20 per cent annually as a result of population growth. We can produce and be able to use our own cotton without importing from other countries. We need a system that will revive the cotton sector. This is a system that will revive cotton growing, revive the closed down factories and one that will enable textile traders to continue with this business. In the process, we will have the welfare of our people improved. This is only possible if we amend the existing Cotton Act. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if we can amend this Bill, then it would take care of the needs of our people. We would also be able to satisfy the needs of textile manufacturers in this country. The Ministry of Agriculture is committed to reviving the cotton industry, although it has taken sometime to do so. I am happy that the Ministry agrees with the Mover of this Bill and that will get our firms working again. I do not want to continue talking. I beg to support, and want to apologise for bringing our Report later than it was expected."
}