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{
    "id": 62141,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/62141/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 330,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "the soils. We have been greatly blessed by God. We have the capacity to produce; we have just been lacking the necessary policy and strategies. One of the strategies that I believe is key is the establishment of a fertilizer factory. I believe the development of a fertilizer factory is a key input into agricultural development of this country and the region. The time has come to put this talk into action, and to take practical steps towards establishing this fertilizer factory. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I know that the Government has indicated that feasibility studies are being done. However, as I have said these feasibility studies had long been done. Feasibility studies were done alongside those of the bullet factory. In fact, commitments had already been made. I do not understand why we should be spending another Kshs70 million or taking another five or ten years to do this. Through this Motion, we want to tell the Government that the time has now come. It must move and start establishing the fertilizer factory. As a nation, our consumption is about 34 million bags of maize per year. What we produce falls short of this ever year. There is always a deficit. We have the capacity to overcome this. We will no longer talk about food deficit in this nation once we have this fertilizer factory in place. I say so because when you look at the amount of time we take in procuring fertilizer from other nations in Europe, and the time we take at the Port of Mombasa--- When we look at challenges like piracy that now affect trade at the port and vessels coming in, including those that bring in fertilizer, all these things affect the Kenyan farmer. As recently as two weeks ago, we asked the Minister in this House when the Government would avail the subsidized fertilizer that would go for Kshs2,000 a bag. From December, the Minister has been saying the fertilizer is coming. We hope that we will get the fertilizer on time. We do not have to face the Indian Ocean and keep asking, “When is the fertilizer coming?” We should be getting the fertilizer locally, on time and at an affordable price if we are able to support our Government. Through this Motion we want to support our Government to go ahead and establish the fertilizer factory in this country. We know we have very able Minister. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish not to take a lot of time because I would also wish other Members to contribute to this Motion. Ours is not just to support the Government in the steps it has taken, but also ask it to expedite the process. The authority of this House and the resolution we are going to pass should go a long way towards supporting the Ministry and the Government in making our wish a reality. We know that the biggest challenge we are facing as a nation is how we can get the cost of inputs to be commensurate to the price of product that we eventually get. When you look at the cost of fertilizer and the price of a bag of maize, you will find that it is very difficult for a farmer to break even. As we speak about a fertilizer factory and availing affordable inputs, we will also be asking the Government to be sensitive to the prices of maize, wheat and other produce. We have been very quick to pay much more to farmers in South Africa, Malawi and other countries from which we import our maize. We know that last year it was on record that we were paying as much as Kshs3,500 per bag of maize. This price went to South African and Malawian farmers, yet when it comes to the Kenyan farmer the Government will fight and fight to ensure our farmer does not get the price of Ksh2,300 per bag. It has been very difficult. We appreciate that the Minister has tried very hard to raise the price from Kshs1,500 to Kshs1,800. We, however, believe that the Government"
}