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{
    "id": 334083,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/334083/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 237,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The experience has been that the Kenyan farmers have actually become poorer with time instead of prospering as a result of their efforts. These have seen their efforts dwindling. As we say, the mainstay of our country is agriculture, but it is only the old citizens who are practicing farming because they do not have other alternatives. It is possible to modernize and make agriculture attractive to all Kenyans who are interested to make it viable, productive and commercially profitable. I believe that this is what the Minister has attempted to do. Even then, I have some issues. I think the ideal title for this Bill would have been the Agricultural Bill. I say so, because even under the definition, “authority” means agriculture, livestock, food, fisheries and so on. I do not see the logic or the sense of actually coming up with policies meant for crops when the same policies would work with regard to livestock. If you look at the authority which is going to be set up, it is being set up to generally help the Government develop policies in the entire agricultural sector. What is the logic of leaving out the livestock sector and fisheries? What the country would be doing is duplicating the same framework that would go towards supporting research and agriculture. So, there is a strong case for the Government and the Minister to reconsider consolidating this Bill which also includes livestock. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the policy framework should also ensure that it is able to achieve the stated policy objective by ensuring the measures of implementing the policies would actually enhance the intended objective. For instance, if you look at the objective in Clause 4(b), it talks about land owners and others who have the obligation to cultivate the land they own or lease and make it economically viable or productive. When you look at other provisions, one would have expected to see policy measures meant to actually realize these objectives. They appear not there. If a land owner is holding land for speculation, for instance, which is quite common in this country, what measures has the Government put in place within the legislation to penalize or make it costly for people who are holding prime agricultural land without achieving the necessary productivity and efficiency? There should be a cost for holding that kind of prime agricultural land. This is standard practice in several countries and the Government should obligate itself the right to uphold public interest when ensuring that there is proper use and utilization of the agricultural land resource. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is also important as envisaged in the objectives and powers of this Authority, to ensure that when it comes to land use, we safeguard prime agricultural land. It has been pointed out that we have actually seen the mushrooming of other economic activities in the prime agricultural land. For example, if you look at the land meant for coffee in Central Province, you will see that it has been taken over by the real estate developers. There is a clear sense of urgency in the Government to ensure that there is deliberate planning for such prime agricultural land. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, one very important thing I have also seen in this Bill is that it ensures that we have one Authority to control and regulate all crops. It will deal with the mischief that we have currently encountered which includes double or triple taxation. For instance, if you look at some crops like tea and coffee, you will see all manner of levies, including road levy. These levies on road maintenance imposed on Kenyans who are also paying taxes means that you are subjecting these farmers to double taxation."
}