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{
    "id": 526402,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/526402/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 234,
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    "content": "at the end of it, they can actually find out whether they have attained their respective goals or not. This is very critical. Regarding certified seeds, sometimes back, the Senate had a problem in one of the counties where the seeds that farmers had been given did not germinate finally. So, it is the worst sort of fate for a farmer not to have the right certified seeds to plant, wait for production to take place, for the seeds to grow but nothing happens. If this can be curtailed at this particular moment and systems are put in place to ensure that seed producers are controlled so that the seeds can be taken through some sort of standard, the proposal is through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) that this seed can be used effectively. Not everybody should just claim to be a farmer, marketer or producer, there should be a system for registration and this is going to be licensed by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) as prescribed in the Seed and Plant Varieties Act. This sort of measures across the various levels of the Council will make it possible for the actualization of this Bill. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the setting up of the County Potato Committee at the County level is critical especially at this time of devolution. At the Council level we will have a feeling of exactly how the structure will be, but at the county level we will have it cascaded to the various counties. This might encourage the growing of potatoes in counties where it could happen, especially, where it is now seen that the benefit of this becomes very clear and can be well utilized. Even as that committee is being set up, we will have input from the county assembly. One of the Senators mentioned that when you leave the system very open in terms of selection of who comes in, then you can have a process where people who have come in are not following the direction of those particular committees. The vetting by the county assemblies will enhance the actual selection of the right calibre of people who will be in these specific committees so that they can be able to do the work. It shall facilitate the registration that has already been alluded to and that is very important. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, apart from the council and the committee being at the various levels, there is need for a lot of coordination. Clause 22 states:- “The council shall issue guidelines on appropriate methods, provide a nexus and acquire qualities of potato produce”. This then has to be cascaded to the county committees so that whatever decision is made at the council level, it can be cascaded and enhanced. Therefore, a lot of coordination, I presume needs to take place there. The standard packaging is the most exciting part for the farmers. This contributes to the mark up prices so that it is very clear that for a standard package of 110 kilogrammes this is the amount of money that somebody should pay for a particular quality of potatoes or for this sort of certified seed and so on. This, as Sen. Elachi said, will really enhance quality so that we can move to the point where we can export potatoes like we have done for flowers. We should find ways of preservation that can help farmers because that is the fate for many farmers. They will have the produce but at the end of the day they need to have an outlet quickly. Sometimes, it is very sad because as you are moving, for example, along Naivasha Road, 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."
}