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{
    "id": 403662,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/403662/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 73,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Musila",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 94,
        "legal_name": "David Musila",
        "slug": "david-musila"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me a chance to contribute to this important Motion. I stand here to declare my support for the Motion. As the Mover of the Motion has stated, agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy. In Kiswahili they say: Kilimo ni uti wa mgongo wa taifa letu . This is a statement that is made every time. This is a statement that has been made ever since this country came into being. However, we give lip service to this statement. Therefore, this Motion is so appropriate because if Kenya is to be self sufficient in food production, then we must put in place policies that are conducive to making that activity the backbone of our Kenyan economy. I say this because even the 10 per cent that the AFC charges to farmers is not for farmers. That is purely a commercial loan. In other countries, like it has been mentioned by the previous speaker, farmers get the lowest interest rate that the Government can afford. We cannot leave farmers at the mercy of banks most of which are mercenaries. I say this because, more often than not, even the AFC is unable to give loans to all the farmers who need it. Some farmers are left to go and look for loans from commercial banks. The results are devastating, particularly when crops fail. Therefore, I want our Government to be friendlier to farmers if we are to afford to be food secure and self sufficient in food production. There is nothing as important as food. The stability of any nation is dependent on the Government’s ability to make sure that its people are self sufficient in food production and that whenever people want food, it is available. If the past Governments had put in place policies which are conducive to food production, what we see every time - our Presidents going abroad to beg for food - would not be happening. That is why I want to support this Motion very strongly. In fact, it should have come before this time. Why should our farmers be cheated into paying very high interest rates when we know that whatever they produce cannot even pay those interests? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in other countries, farmers’ inputs are subsidized by governments. But when it comes to our country, we are told that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has told the Government not to subsidize the farmers. It is a pity those governments who form the IMF are the ones who subsidize their farmers. However, when they come to The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}