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{
    "id": 821322,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/821322/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 216,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "of this coun6try. However, it came out clearly that this farmer is frustrated. In some areas, they are not able to access the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and end up being stranded. Madam Temporary Speaker, the second category of farmers is the middlemen who are now softly referred to as traders. They facilitate the farmers to take their crops to the NCPB. The third category is the telephone farmer. If he has the money and the links, he will import the maize and take it to the NCPB directly. In this situation, the real farmer is frustrated because he is stuck with the maize and does not know what to do with it. This happened during the last harvest. Many farmers were stranded and did not know where to take their produce. There was a lot of maize that had been imported from neighbouring countries at a lower cost. Therefore, this made the local farmers to be stranded with their maize. They would go to the market only to realize that there was no one ready to buy their produce. There is a need to protect these farmers. We need to regulate the importation of duty free maize. When maize is imported duty free to the country, farmers who have their produce in stores do not know where to take it. So, there is a need to protect the indigenous farmers. This Senate must stand out to ensure that the common man is protected. Madam Temporary Speaker, the role that the farmer plays in socioeconomic development is very important. Therefore, when it comes to payment, there should be no question about it. There is need for the farmer to be paid once the maize has been delivered and accepted by the NCPB. They should not accept the maize in the first place if they are not ready to pay. It is wrong for the NCPB to accept the maize and thereafter say: “There is an official letter that has been written by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to officially suspend payment to the farmers”. It is insensitive and inhuman. It is only proper that the farmers, who had already delivered their produce to the NCPB are paid. When you go to the counties, you will find that the real farmers and the middlemen are known. Therefore, when the middlemen buy maize from the farmers, it is usually done under an agreement. In such a situation, it is okay because the middleman has consent from the farmers. However, the maize that goes to the NCPB should be paid unconditionally. Farming creates employment for many people. If the farmers in this country decide not to plant maize or sugar cane, they will be idle and frustrated. These are peasants who have been eking out a living from farming. They also have socio-economic needs. They have children to take to school and pay hospital bills. Therefore, there is need for the farmer to be protected in this country. Madam Temporary Speaker, there is need for the farmer to be encouraged. Every human being would want to be encouraged. One of the Senators talked about the Minimum Guaranteed Returns (MGR). There is need for that to come out clearly, so that the farmers know that as much as they contribute to the economy of this country, they are guaranteed that their input will not go to a loss. However, in a situation where the farmer spends a lot and does not get any output, this is very wrong. For example, right now, there are some farmers who still have maize from the previous harvest and very soon, they will be harvesting again. So, the 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."
}