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{
    "id": 676881,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/676881/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 125,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Makenga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1650,
        "legal_name": "Richard Makenga Katemi",
        "slug": "richard-makenga-katemi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker for giving me this opportunity. I want to contribute to this very important Bill. The proposed Bill will establish warehouse receipting system for grains and cereals with a view to stabilizing commodity prices and cushioning farmers against price fluctuations. It also seeks to enable farmers to save money in the banks. The warehouse receipting system is a tool that will provide farmers with confidence or surety that when they take their produce to the warehouse, prices will be guaranteed. The warehouse receipting system is long overdue. It should have been introduced a long time ago. Countries like Tanzania have conducted a pilot project of warehouse receipting for their cash crop and cashew nuts. The farmers were able to get a price increase from 2008 to 2011. They were able to earn two-and-a-half times the cost of the price when the warehouse receipting system was established. The warehouse receipting system will enable farmers store their produce soon after harvesting, when prices are characteristically low. That will allow the sales of their produce to continue over time from the harvest. In my constituency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has put up a warehouse to store commodities. As it is perennially understood in our region, when maize is harvested from the shambas and stored in small stores, it ends up getting aflatoxin. Warehouse receipting will enable them to take their produce to the warehouse. The grains will be dried and stored over a period of time. How will the farmers be made aware? This is a new concept being introduced in the country. However, there is no proper sensitization of farmers on how they should handle those grains. The line ministry should be encouraged to sensitize farmers on the use of that facility. This is the time for the warehouse receipting system to rescue the farmers who have been perennially affected by wastage and even loss of their products or commodities in their areas. The warehouse receipting system will also enable the Government to quantify what quantity of grains is stored in the warehouse. It will also enable NCPB to offload some of the excess grains to the warehouse receipting agents. With respect to the management of national security and strategic reserves, an effective warehouse system provides the Government authorities with timely and accurate information about aggregate stock of stored agricultural commodities in the country. This Bill is very timely. It will contribute quite immensely in ensuring that farmers have money, not only in their pockets, but also saved somewhere. They will exchange their commodities for a receipt which they can use to negotiate in financial facilities and even get money in advance. Therefore, they can help themselves by paying school fees or cover any of their needs. I support the Bill. Warehouse receipting system will also minimize the risk of the farmers’ grains being affected by weevils and other pests. I would like to urge the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries to fast-track the opening of the warehouse in my constituency, which is based in Mukuyuni so that my farmers can take their produce there."
}