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{
    "id": 252965,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/252965/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 201,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Bifwoli",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 208,
        "legal_name": "Sylvester Wakoli Bifwoli",
        "slug": "wakoli-bifwoli"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is not a laughing matter! It has reached a stage where the sugar-cane farmers are moaning. We are appealing to the Government to remove taxes on sugar-cane farming. The Government has even allowed people to start parasitic organisations. There is the so-called Mumias Out-growers Company (MOCO). There is another one called Nzoia Out-growers Company (NOCO). There is also Steam SACCO. All these organisations are parasites \"eating\" the farmers' income. Why should we allow everybody to \"eat\" from us? Some of them are only briefcase organisations milking poor farmers. How will such a farmer's sugar compete with April 19, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 539 duty-free sugar from other countries in the name of COMESA rules? Sugar imported by rich men is going to flood this country. The Indian businessmen from Mombasa are going to import tonnes and tonnes of sugar. The Minister for Trade and Industry should tell this House how Indians are allowed to import sugar. Why should he not curb it, since he is one of us? He should be the one fighting for us. I would like to appeal to the Minister to stop importation of duty-free sugar into this country, so that our farmers can earn something. Another issue which the Minister for Agriculture should note is the delayed harvest and payments and poor payments that have killed the morale of our farmers. These have demoralised them so much that they simply plant sugar-cane and do not bother to weed it, or apply to it fertilisers, because they know there will be nothing for them from it. Instead, a farmer will sell the fertiliser because he is demoralised. I would like to appeal to the Government to help our farmers. The factories should employ instructors to make sure that fertilisers are applied to the sugar-cane crop. The Sugar-cane should be properly weeded for, so that at the end of the day, when it is being delivered to factories, it is healthy and produces enough juice, which can be used to produce sugar. The by-products from sugar factories should be used to generate electricity. Why should the Government not purchase machines that can crush sugar-cane and also generate electricity? That way, instead of hydro-electricity, we can get electricity from Nzoia Sugar Factory supplied to the whole of Bungoma District. Mumias Sugar Factory can also supply electricity to the whole of Western Province. Why should these two factories not generate enough electricity for the whole of the Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza Provinces, and enable farmers to have something to put into their pockets? Shareholders of the factories could also get dividends. This is a gold mine that the Government has refused to utilise. It is time the Government woke up and looked for ways and means of improving sugar- cane farming. That is when we shall have a reason to smile! Otherwise, we are farming but suffering. We are the poorest people in this country! Why are we condemned to poverty? Does it mean that when you plant sugar-cane you are inviting an economic curse into your pockets? Sugar- cane farmers cannot take their children to local universities and high schools. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, surely, Mr. Minister, why should you not help us? There is no one else to help us apart from the Minister for Trade and Industry and the Minister for Agriculture. You are one of us! What is happening? Are you forgetting where you come from? When will you help your own people, if not now? My question is: When are you going to help, since our term is coming to an end? The writing is on the wall! It is not tomorrow! They are the ones who will save this Government! Nobody else will do it! They need to either save us or we perish. I am not willing to drown with them! I may jump over when the time comes! Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support."
}