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{
    "id": 328665,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/328665/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 368,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mrs. Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 376,
        "legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
        "slug": "millie-odhiambo-mabona"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. First of all, I want to congratulate the Minister for bringing this Bill, save that I do not know if there is a problem because I can see the title outside it is being referred to as the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service Bill and inside it is the Seed and Plant Varieties (Amendment) Bill. I do not know whether the Minister could just clarify because then it means we are looking at two Bills in one. Other than seeking that, I just want to say that when we were looking at the Seed and Plant Varieties (Amendment) Act earlier, the Minister had indicated that they would bring before this House several Bills that would seek better protection of indigenous knowledge and beneficial properties of plants genetic resources. Nonetheless, what the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services Bill seeks to do is still to protect breeders much more than it does to farmers. I have heard the hon. Assistant Minister while seconding say that it seeks to protect farmers. But it only seeks to protect farmers once they are exposed. This is because the intellectual property rights of our indigenous knowledge of our plant genetic resources are not protected. That, therefore, means we are losing a lot of traditional and indigenous varieties that were more resilient to drought, disease and generally the harsh weather in Africa. So, I urge the Minister to consider with the same speed to introduce a Bill that will protect our traditional farmers and indigenous knowledge on the beneficial properties of plant genetic resources."
}