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{
    "id": 505371,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/505371/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 240,
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    "content": "make fertilizer available and affordable. This Board will ensure the development and establishment of fertilizer industries and factories in our country. As hon. Senators know, this country has been struggling with the establishment of the fertilizer industry since 1978. There is a huge scandal known as the KenRen that took place in the 1970s. Some money got lost in the effort to create a fertilizer industry and that project did not take off. It is only this year; I say this with a lot of pride, that the Jubilee Government has entered into a public private partnership arrangement with a private investor who has been identified to establish the first fertilizer industry in Eldoret. This will be the first in our country. Going forward and given the critical role of agriculture in our economy, it would be important to have a Board and a sector wide policy on fertilizer and animal feeds so that we can grow our agriculture. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, finally, the reason why this Bill is important is because it provides for a framework for subsidizing fertilizer and animal feeds production. There is no country in the world that has a vibrant agricultural sector without a subsidy programme. Agriculture is critical to all countries; developing and developed countries alike. They normally say that if you want to see a riot, it will be as a result of inadequate food. Even in the most sophisticated society, if people cannot be food secure you are looking at civil unrest. The issue of subsidies is important. Definitely, that subsidization programme will have to be harmonized with the World Trade Organization (WTO) subsidy programmes and the other regional and international trade arrangements and the protocols and treaties that Kenya is party to given that our Constitution requires us to internalize international law in our trade and investment policies. Therefore, this Board and the functions this Board will perform are going to change our agricultural sector, our livestock production and crop production for food security for the prosperity of our country. Without much ado, I beg to move that the Fertilizers and Animal Foodstuffs (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.36 of 2013) be now read a Second Time. I request Sen. Ndiema to second."
}