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    "id": 821213,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/821213/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 107,
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    "content": "buy produce in Kampala? Was that price for the Kenyan farmer or was it was meant for the farmer who goes to Dar-es-salaam to collect maize? These are issues that we feel require a lot of attention so that we can come up with policies that may save this country from embarrassment in the future. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is true that farmers have made their plea to various offices in this land, and they are feeling completely helpless and frustrated. Liberalization of maize is something that may not be avoided, but the biggest question is: What do we do with our farmers? We know that the United Kingdom (UK) is one country which we adopted a lot of things from. To date, they subsidize their farmers and they protect their staple foods. The same also applies to the Unites States of America (USA) and most of the countries in the European Union (EU). Mr. Speaker, Sir, I know that we have raised the fact that if we have to attain food security, we must answer the question: What are the main drivers towards food security? For us to deal with the issue of food security, I dare say now that unless we take care of our farmers properly, we will not get anything. It is easy to assume that these farmers are getting subsidies and that, after all, they were given free fertilizer. However, if these farmers were getting anything that is profitable, we should see that in how they have grown and how they live. Mr. Speaker, Sir, days are gone when farmers were rich people. There were times in this country when we had something called the Minimum Guaranteed Returns (MGR). Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri knows that because it was in his days that Parliament said: “If for any reason you lose a crop because of drought or flooding, there is MGR that the Government must pay you.” This was wiped when we were told that everything is liberalized. During the structural adjustment programmes period in this country, a lot of things were changed. At that time, you could see a farmer behaving like somebody who has income. Now we are talking of farmers who have no MGR. They farm at their own risk to ensure that Kenyans feed and we have food security. Unless there is MGR, there is no way that anybody would want to risk their money. No wonder we are seeing coffee, sugarcane and avocado farming being done in Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties. What is the future of food security in this country? Unless we, as leaders, sit down in a sober way and discuss how we will ensure food security, it will be extremely difficult for us to ensure that. Currently, the farmers are also supported through a fund under the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) as a loan. The shocking thing is that for those who took loans from AFC in 2017 and have not delivered their crops, the clock is ticking as far as the loans are concerned. The interests are increasing and nobody is stopping them, yet for the farmers who have not been paid by Government, nobody is saying that they will be paid interest on their money owed by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). In January, a few farmers were paid exactly for what they had delivered. That means that the farmers will make losses through the money that has not accrued any interest and at the same time, pay the AFC. It is very important that we do a thorough job, as the Senate, because agriculture is a devolved function. We need to investigate properly and come up with resolutions, as outlined in the Motion. We need to come up with resolutions that will enhance not only The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}