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{
    "id": 763221,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/763221/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 147,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mabonga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13309,
        "legal_name": "Moses Wekesa Mwambu Mabonga",
        "slug": "moses-wekesa-mwambu-mabonga-2"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this chance to, at least, support my friend and neighbour, who brought this important Motion to this House. As my colleague has just mentioned, as a sugar-cane farmer in this country, I am surprised; looking at the taskforce that was set up through this House about 10 years ago. Some recommendations were made and one of them was about payment within the 14 days that you have just suggested. I have no problem if payment is made or not made within 14 days. This same farmer at times borrows money at interest because there is always an interest that the farmer pays whenever they borrow from banks or the AFC. We would suggest in this House that if such a payment is delayed, we introduce a certain percentage that farmers are given for the delay. So, the more the millers delay to pay farmers, the more the interest they will have to pay. That way, people will become, at least, more responsible. If you look at the people importing sugar, you will realise that it is deliberate because a farmer is a major link in the sugar supply unit. Payment to farmers sometimes is delayed, or farmers are underpaid in the pretext of recovering monies in respect of subsidised farm inputs supplied to farmers. Once planting is delayed, these people take advantage and import sugar into the country. Of course, delays in planting are deliberate. The Government has done its bit in the case of Nzoia Sugar-cane Factory; they did a waiver the other day. Farmers were paid the other day but the majority of them are still in debts. To support this Motion, I suggest that this House, through the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives ensures that the Sugar Board and the authority that set low prices tell us the criterion they are using to set prices for the farmers. At times a farmer supplies sugar-cane and then the weighing of the sugar-cane is done away from the farm. Even the farmer himself at times may not witness. We need to know the criterion that has been put in place to ensure that farmers enjoy their hard work. If there is somebody who suffers a lot, it is the sugar-cane farmer. By the time you start planting and cultivating that crop, for it to mature, it takes a lot of energy. We need to take it as a serious problem affecting the farmers in this country so that they enjoy the benefits as they used to. In the 1990s, sugar-cane farming was like insurance to some of farmers. When they planted sugar-cane, even on a half-acre of land, they knew they were going to get a harvest. If you look at them today, you will see that they are very desperate. That is why The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}