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{
    "id": 508875,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/508875/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 199,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "December 3, 2014 SENATE DEBATES 32 Sen. Mungai",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this morning, I was discussing with some farmers who told me that it is raining and they do not know what to do, because their maize is in the fields. They are now being forced to sell maize at throwaway prices. This is attributed to the late supply of fertiliser. Next year very few farmers will afford fertiliser even if it will be subsidized. This is because the fertiliser that was imported before was rumoured to be the source of the disease that maize has been suffering from. This has affected farmers a lot. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has taken time to address this particular disease. Therefore, the fact that the Senate Majority Leader came up with this Bill, means that someone was sleeping on his or her job. Madam Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would, therefore, request the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries directs the NCPB to open its depots immediately and give prices that can cushion our farmers against the losses that they are now incurring. We also discussed issues touching on the harvesting of maize. At this particular time of the year, being the harvesting period of maize in the breadbasket and many other areas of this country, farmers have been suffering. The Government is supposed to approach developed countries, like Germany, so that they can give us machines that can harvest maize very fast during the rainy season. This will ensure that farmers do not incur losses. Today, farmers are sitting in their houses and watching their produce destroyed by rain. It is important to know that anytime we import maize into this country, it is a challenge to us, leaders. We have fertile land, but managing whatever is happening on that land is a challenge that we should be ready to overcome. The fact that this Bill originated from the National Assembly, we should look at it very critically. We can amend the Bill, so that the Board does not deal only with fertiliser. We can add seeds, like the Senate Minority Leader has said here, and other 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."
}