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"id": 86147,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/86147/?format=api",
"text_counter": 348,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Langat",
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"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to the proposed ad valorem levy by the Minister, I am happy to the extent that research has been given some 50 per cent. But we also need to look at tea development generally. This is because if we do research and do not develop our infrastructure where tea comes from, then that research will not help much. As the hon. Member who spoke before me said, I think it would be better to go further and specify the 50 per cent with the Kenya Tea Board--- Of course, there are salaries and other things but it is important to state the percentage that will go to tea development directly in terms of infrastructure. For example, in the current system, each factory is allocated some amount which is used to do the feeder roads where tea is purchased. This is a worry which many directors of KTDA talked about. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the talk in the country now is about devolution. Therefore, there is fear that this new Bill will again start centralizing funds that are meant for the development of infrastructure. I think it would have been important for the Minister to clearly state which percentage will go to infrastructure development and how it is going to be shared amongst the factories, so that the infrastructure in areas where tea is grown is also developed. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the marketing of tea is a very crucial matter. The hon. Member who spoke before me understood very well how tea sales are done. Before I came to this House, I worked for KTDA briefly. Other than the auction, there is need for the Government to assist the tea industry by seeking for markets where our tea can be sold directly in addition to the auction itself so that we create some kind of competition between the tea which is auctioned and the one which is sold directly. So, we would expect some kind of fund which can tap markets for this tea. Since there is a lot of work going on in the coffee industry, the same should also be undertaken in the tea industry in terms of marketing. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is also talk of value addition in terms of increasing the competition and revenue for this country from tea. I think we should move from the bulk selling and do a bit of value addition and the Government should be a champion in that side, so that we are able to sell part of our tea when it has already been value added and, therefore, we can generate higher revenues. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is a lot of talk about KTDA. Although there are challenges which the KTDA needs to address--- I have just said that I used to work for KTDA and also come from an area where many farmers deliver their tea leaves to KTDA. I also come from an area where we have multinationals which buy tea from farmers directly. But I cannot say that, let us kill KTDA now because we have multinationals. This is because the multinationals are profiteers. They only take tea for as long as they want. It reaches a time when they refuse tea leaves. Therefore, we should defend what has brought the farmers from that very long time to date. The KTDA has brought the farmers from very difficult times and it is not time to say it has to die. I agree that there are challenges that the KTDA needs to address. I have always taken the opportunity whenever I meet the KTDA management to tell them that they need to address the issues of management. I agree that in terms of production and marketing, the KTDA should assist. But I disagree when KTDA engages itself in ferrying tea leaves from tea buying centres. I believe our farmers are able to organize themselves and purchase vehicles and deliver their tea leaves on time. But the problem is that the KTDA has involved itself too much and in the process made enemies with the same farmers it is trying to assist. It would be advisable for KTDA to really look at those things that require assistance, but in terms of the collection logistics of tea leaves, farmers can get a pick-up in their buying centres and deliver their tea leaves many times in a day. The KTDA can also do their quality checks at the factory. I believe we can reduce some of the challenges because sometimes, farmers wait in the tea buying centres for two days. When the tea leaves are delivered, despite the fact that they are the ones who caused the problem, they say that the tea leaves are burnt and, therefore, they cannot accept them. I think it is time farmers organized themselves and delivered their tea and get value for it. The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) is a tea farmersâ organization. The Board of the KTDA is from farmers themselves. As members, we need to talk to our farmers so that we set a criteria to show the qualifications of those who can be elected to be directors of KTDA. If we do not set the criteria, then everyone and even those who may not be qualified to be directors can be picked to be the directors. When they are picked at the factory level, then they will also elect one director to represent them at the KTDA Board. So, I think we should come up with a criterion on how to elect people who are capable of running those factories, so that we do not keep on blaming others for mistakes which may be of our own making. It would have been better if the Bill would have been harmonized by the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Co-operatives so that we can pass it as one Bill. I do not know what the Ministry has to say about that. However, thank you very much."
}