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{
    "id": 763240,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/763240/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 166,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Kihara",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 336,
        "legal_name": "Jayne Njeri Kihara",
        "slug": "jayne-kihara"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this chance to support the Motion on the sugar-cane growers. Although I do not come from that area, Kenya as a country needs to support agriculture. We pride ourselves in agriculture because it is the main economy builder of this country but it seems that we are not serious because we do not support the industry. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, everybody or most Kenyans consume sugar. I do not think there is anybody who does not take sugar except me. However, at the same time, like somebody said, there is ready market for sugar. I do not see why a farmer should not be paid promptly for the produce. In whatever business you are in, if you are not paid in good time, and that money is delayed, it never meets your needs; instead it puts you in more debt. This goes to other industries like pyrethrum which is grown where I come from. Children born 10 years ago do not know what pyrethrum is yet we know it was the backbone of the economy of Nyandarua, Nakuru and many other places. What ails this country is corruption. If corruption is not addressed, it is going to consume everything and everybody. We know these farms need fertilizers. A farmer cannot get fertilizer because by the time money arrives, it goes to clear very old debts. The country as a whole should make agriculture more lucrative so that we create more jobs for our youth. Our youth do not think of farming at any one time because there is nothing to show for it. Those who have been in it end up suffering. As for sugar, we know it is imported by few tycoons. They are the same people who kill this industry. Like somebody said, let us put agriculture high in the radar of our economy so that crops like pyrethrum, potatoes, rice, tea and coffee will come back in big force and create more jobs. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Nakuru Pyrethrum Factory is now is being vandalised because the industry is dead. We all know there is a ready market for agricultural products. As the Chief Whip said, let it be put into a Bill such that we all contribute and it moves this industry a level higher. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I have been to western Kenya a few times and you can see the poverty there. Those people are trying to bring themselves up. I know if they are paid on time, it will increase the production and the industry will create jobs to the youth of that region, just like any other region, if agriculture is promoted. I hereby I support. Thank you. 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."
}