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{
    "id": 608117,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/608117/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 302,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "glad that in this Bill, this Board will be authorized or certain standards of packaging have been set such that potatoes will now be sold only in 50 kilogramme bags. This is not only proper for the dealer, buyer and the seller because they know the definite quantity they are buying but also for our youth and the workers who package and load these heavy materials on trucks. The young people who load potatoes to lorries and trucks have been suffering; some have ended up with life threatening ailments because of the weight of the bags they carry. You recall recently that maize is now being sold in 50 kilogramme bags. I was at the National Cereal and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Kitale and I noticed that for the first time, anybody could load the trucks; even ladies were also able to get employment to load the trucks. Similarly, ladies producing the potatoes will easily load the potatoes into the trucks and take them to the market. In the past, attempts have been made to standardize the packaging of potatoes and this has been at the discretion of the Cabinet Secretary or the Permanent Secretary through subsidiary legislation or policy statements which have not been effectively dealt with whereby they make regulations which are reversed within no time. This is the first time that this requirement is being entrenched in legislation. Therefore, implementation or enforcement will certainly come into fruition. The board that is envisaged here is very important. I am aware that the Government is trying to reduce boards in the agricultural sector for purposes of economy but I think since this is a new board, perhaps it should be allowed to run first until systems have been set in place, then consideration can be given later, perhaps a few years down the line, to revert or merge the functions of this Board with those of the authority that has been formed to cater for the entire agricultural sector. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am also aware that agriculture is devolved and it is very important. I am aware that the Committee Stage will come up with provisions to ensure that representation from the counties is catered for in terms of membership in the board or even establishing branches out there in the counties. With those few remarks, I want to say thank you, to Sen. (Eng.) Muriuki, for this worthwhile Bill that is going to assist this country in its effort to attain food security and self-sufficiency in food."
}