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    "id": 305853,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/305853/?format=api",
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    "content": "wheat, maize, coffee and horticulture production, then we are acquiescing to a mischief that is not forgivable. I also want to urge that once we pass this, KEPHIS in its operations should move quickly to conform to the standardization that is ongoing within the context of the East African Community. Kenya is producing through some of our companies seeds, in Southern Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Arusha and so on, so that the seeds produced in Rwanda, Sudan or Tanzania conform to the standards of what we produce here so that they can be able to get into our market. More importantly, as I come to an end, the Minister should also look at enforcing the Clauses in the original Act that deal with prohibition of illegal movements of varieties of crops and plants through quarantines. Madam Minister, you can borrow from the legislation in Australia where even to move a variety of a crop from Western Australia to Queensland, you need to get a permit. This very strongly controls the spread of diseases, weeds and weevils. You may be aware that there is a weevil commonly nicknamed “ Osama ” that has ravaged maize cereals in this country to the extent that post harvest losses are now running up to 40 per cent. This is because you put your cereal in the store and this weevil resists every pesticide you put and it came in all the way from West Africa because of poor enforcement rules. So, I would want to see that at the Committee Stage the Minister can look at the enforcement of restrictions that protect, not the farmer within the context of international protectionism but within the context of saving our country from dangerous diseases that may come in through pests by uncontrolled importation of seeds and plant materials. This is a very timely Bill. It will make the work of KEPHIS easier and better. I do hope that as an agricultural country the benefits from this amendment will be immense and will translate into economic activities that are beneficial and value-adding to our economy. With those few remarks, I beg to second."
}