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{
    "id": 846920,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/846920/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 75,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mavoko, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Patrick Makau",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2328,
        "legal_name": "Patrick Makau King'ola",
        "slug": "patrick-makau-kingola"
    },
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I have not spoken to it. I support this Motion, particularly knowing that coconut is a very difficult tree to grow. For it to grow and start producing coconuts, it takes six to seven years and most of them are naturally grown. The best place to plant or grow it naturally is along the coastal line. I agree with the Mover of the Motion that the Government has to take this seriously by compensating farmers, given that drought took away most of the trees, which was their livelihood. The benefits of coconut range from oil, building materials, soap and local brews. For the coastal people, coconut is like coffee in the former Central and Eastern provinces. In fact, the inclusion of the amendment is so good because it takes care of the whole coastal region. I am sure that is why Hon. Mwadime wanted to speak to it. He has to be heard by the people of Taita that he also supports them, that they can also plant coconut trees in their region. Sometimes back, I saw farmers in Nyeri wanting to start growing coconut. That speaks to the range of benefits. If the coconut tree and its products are well managed, Kenya can rely on it. India is a big economy and when you look at the ranking of its economic income, coconut is number four. They have industries making soap and oil. We can also learn from such a country and, in fact, improve and promote the coconut industry. So, the Government should take this Motion seriously. Most farmers in the tea and coffee growing areas have shifted to growing maize and beans because of lack of markets and funding by the Government. Most farmers in this country have gone to sleep. It is high time this country woke up and realised agriculture is the in thing. Even the youth of this country need to be introduced to - and given funds to start - farming, particularly in produce like coconut. We cannot all be white-collar jobseekers. We can put the youth in the agriculture sector. We can begin doing that by implementing such a Motion. I like it when this House supports everything that comes here. We do not have to look at coconut as a coastal produce. I know drought has affected areas across Kenya, but we are supporting farmers from the coastal region. If we were to be selfish, I would speak about our The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}