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{
    "id": 676924,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/676924/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 168,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kang’ata",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1826,
        "legal_name": "Irungu Kang'ata",
        "slug": "irungu-kangata"
    },
    "content": "If you look at the entire value chain of production of agricultural products, you will find that there are several components which I will be proposing we put in place through legislation. One of the issues is the current debate whether we should have maximum and minimum ownership of land in this country. I know that one is a constitutional provision, but I am very fearful that if we cap ownership of land whether national or not, it will affect our country. Zimbabwe is a country which produced many agricultural products for export prior to President Mugabe’s policy of indigenisation of land. The effect of that policy was to wreck the agricultural sector. Therefore, if you look at this Bill and the traditional approach to land and generally agriculture, you will realise that one of the key advantages is to bring that modern aspect of agriculture. As it has been pointed out by one of my colleagues who submitted earlier, warehousing reduces the amount of crops or produce that is lost prior to that produce being taken to the market. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will now use this Warehouse Receipting System to track produce and it will create both positive and negative effects. I strongly believe for us to boost our agricultural produce, we do not need to overtax our agricultural sector. We are known to be one of the highly taxed societies. Therefore, it is good for us to have a more efficient tax collection method which this Bill is proposing to bring to the agricultural sector. On the other hand, I would not want it to have a negative effect. Once we establish the system, we will give people better tax incentives, so that they can invest in the agricultural sector. Hon. Members need to know that warehousing is much bigger than issues relating to agriculture. There are several items that can be kept in a warehouse. The industrial sector and various distribution sectors deal with warehousing. We also have some service providers who have established warehouses. Therefore, as we discuss this Bill, let us also come to that realization that warehousing is not strictly an issue of the agricultural sector. This is because even other sectors have warehouses. With those remarks, I support this Bill because it is trying to modernise our warehousing system. This is a good way of illustrating that we are modernising our society. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}