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{
    "id": 433879,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/433879/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 169,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Pukose",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1458,
        "legal_name": "Robert Pukose",
        "slug": "robert-pukose"
    },
    "content": "production is very high. Recently, Egerton University, in partnership with the Government, did soil sampling. They stated clearly in their Report that soils in Trans Nzoia, where I come from, have become acidic and they can no longer produce high quality foods per acreage. For us to support this soil in order to increase production, then we are supposed to use lime other than the 20/20 fertilizer. The Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives read a Statement in this House. We realized that most of what was being supplied was DAP and this adds more acid into the soils. Therefore, the authority will make sure that areas with acidic soils get fertilizer that does not have high acid content. The fertilizer with high lime content will neutralize those soils. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, among the many functions of this Bill is setting up a factory that manufactures fertilizer. Currently, in this country, we do not have any factory that can manufacture fertilizer. So, if we create an enabling environment by having a body that will regulate the setting up of the factory, including selecting the site for the factory, that will be very important. In the past, factories have been set up in areas which are politically correct and not areas where people require them most. In this case, a fertilizer factory should be set up in an area where fertilizer is needed in huge amounts. It should be an area where the cost of transportation is going to be minimal. The availability to the farmers should also be maximized. This will mean that the cost of production to the farmers will also go down. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the composition of the Board should be representative so that it represents the areas that are most affected. The area of animal foodstuffs needs to be supported. In this county, high pedigree animals are extremely expensive. Currently, a pedigree animal goes for between Kshs150,000 and Kshs200,000. When this authority comes up, we would like it to address the issue of Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC), which are now under- performing. It was stated in the Cabinet approval of the Budget that the Government wants to assist ADC to come up. We, therefore, want the ADC to take lead in the issues of animal foodstuffs and---"
}