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{
"id": 250148,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/250148/?format=api",
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Karaba",
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"speaker": {
"id": 232,
"legal_name": "Daniel Dickson Karaba",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this chance also to contribute to the debate on this very useful Bill. Cotton is a very important fibre that Kenyans should not lose sight of. Cotton is the basis of the textile industry. It also gives cover to the soil. If we neglect the cotton crop, we will have neglected very many people who would have been engaged in its production. You will also note that cotton in Kenya is grown in selective areas where it suits best. I would like to urge the Government to pay more attention to the areas where cotton is grown to assist the people who can only grow cotton and nothing else. Cotton can only be grown in specific areas and hence the reason why the Government should support the cotton farmers. Cotton is also grown in many countries in the world, for example, India, Egypt and America. In these countries, when there is a crop failure, due to the effects of bow weevils and other related diseases, the Government steps in and gives the necessary subsidies to the farmers. I would like to urge the Government to make sure that when there is a cotton failure in this country, subsidies are given to the farmers, so that they do not lose sight of this very important crop. Cotton is also labour-intensive and many people are involved in its production. This creates employment. We should not neglect the agricultural-based industries because they affect our industrial development. Many countries which produce cotton have come up with cottage industries, for example, India. I do not see the reason why Kenya should not start cottage industries. It is also important to note that many cotton ginneries, for example, the one we have in Mwea, had been closed for 24 years. I am happy that some of them have been re-opened. The Government should ensure that the ginneries which had been closed due to, maybe, lack of direction in the cotton industry, are opened in order to revive the cotton industry. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, you will also note that this is a crop that requires a lot of research, particularly in areas where there is clay cotton soil and sudden abundant rain. The KARI centres should do thorough research. Recently, we visited the KARI centre in Mwea and we found out that they are doing a very good job. Research on cotton should be carried out in the whole country, so that people in areas which are suitable for cotton growing are encouraged to continue doing so. We need to learn from South Africa about the genetically modified cotton. We should study about this type of cotton and maybe borrow a leaf from South Africa. If this happens to be the case, we will include cotton as one of our main cash crops, such as coffee, tea and sugar-cane, and we will earn more foreign exchange. The Government promised to create 500,000 jobs per year and if we improve on cotton production, this dream can be achieved. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the proposed Cotton Authority should have its own mechanisms and programmes to revive the cotton industry. You will also note that Kenya imports a lot of clothes which are made from cotton, which is grown in areas which have the same climatic conditions like Kenya. We should make use of these conditions and revive the cotton growing in Kenya. This will enable us to achieve our dream of industrialising Kenya. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}