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"id": 401522,
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"content": "borrowed money against that crop, then it is obvious that they are not going to repay such a loan because your crop has been lost. Cince there is no crop insurance and, also, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) does not compensate farmers for such kinds of losses, borrowers may default on their loans. Sometimes also, you may have a poor crop because of poor seed, like it happened at one time in Kitale. Somebody buys the seed from the market or from the Kenya Seed Company (KSC), you plant it with fertilizer and when it comes to the harvest, this maize does not grow and the highest it can grow is maybe two or three meters. So, that is already a loss; but who can you put that blame on? Even the seller of the seed is not willing to accept responsibility because, maybe, you have already thrown away that receipt to show that you bought that seed from such and such a company. So, Madam Temporary Speaker, in cases of default, I think the Government should take on that loss, because these losses should be looked at individually. When the AFC lends out money to farmers to grow crops, they should behave the way the KSC behaves; they come to the ground, you show them where your land is, the acreage and they will lend you the exact amount that is going to cover that acreage. But, first, you must also show your commitment; you must plough. So, you can only go to the KSC maybe for the seed and for maintenance of the crop, and they will keep monitoring the crop until harvest time. When the maize is harvested, they are there with their lorries and they make sure that this crop is delivered to their godowns so that they can deduct their money before you are paid. So, I think if the AFC takes that position of monitoring and control, we shall get somewhere. However, Madam Temporary Speaker, I wanted to point out some challenges regarding these loans which are given by the AFC. I have already mentioned one of them being misconception by the borrowers that these are grants and, therefore, they do not need to pay back. Of course, this eats into the kitty of the AFC and you will find that they do not have that capital base to lend out. The other challenge, of course, is security. We know that there are various kinds of securities, not just land, but the AFC insists that farmers must give their land. Most people are very conscious because they may take land where their family lives as security to the AFC, maybe the crop fails and your land can be sold and your family thrown out of the property. These days, people are very careful in using land as collateral. I would like to ask the national Government to be flexible so that collateral is not just in the form of land. They should also take car log books which are easier to sell than land which at times belongs to a clan and cannot be sold."
}