Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 619787,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/619787/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 278,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Ottichilo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 131,
        "legal_name": "Wilber Ottichilo Khasilwa",
        "slug": "wilber-ottichilo"
    },
    "content": "Committee for the good job they have done. We have waited for this Report for a long time and finally it is here. I have gone through it and generally, it is good. It has covered all the issues that are bedeviling the sugar industry. Therefore, the most important thing is that this Report should be supported, passed and its contents implemented as soon as possible, so that we can address the myriad problems in the sugar industry. The key problem in the industry, as highlighted by Hon. Chris Omulele and Hon. Millie Odhiambo, is cost of production. Unless and until we address the issue of cost of production, I can assure this House that there will be importation of sugar and sugar barons will have a field day. As long as the cost of production of our sugar is costly, it is so easy to import sugar from the world market where sugar barons find it easy to make quick money. They will take any risk to do that. I am very happy with the Committee and I can see the Chairman is here, I congratulate him. They have found out the issues that bedevil the cost of production which are covered in Paragraphs 74 and 75. If we can address those issues, then we can fix the problem in the sugar sector and become competitive. The other issue that I want to highlight is the issue of low byproducts utilisation. In this country, we only aim to have table sugar from sugarcane. In other countries like Colombia and Brazil, table sugar is a byproduct. There are many other products that we can get from sugarcane. For example, we can get Ethanol which can be sold at a better price. We also have molasses and bagasse. We can produce paper in this country using bagasse. If you go to all the factories, you will find heaps of bagasse which are not being used. Bagasse can be used to produce electricity, which is not being done. We are getting very little out of our sugarcane compared to what we should get. Value addition is the sole important aspect which we are not doing. I support this Report and hope that we can all support it. Once this House passes it, the Committee on Implementation should take it up quickly and ensure that the recommendations contained therein are implemented without any delay. Thank you and I support."
}