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{
    "id": 947829,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/947829/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 205,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kiminini, FORD-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Chris Wamalwa",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1889,
        "legal_name": "Chrisantus Wamalwa Wakhungu",
        "slug": "chrisantus-wamalwa-wakhungu"
    },
    "content": "from Kshs40. It is important that we have such a board which will look into ways of value addition to help the poor farmer. We have been told that livestock contributes to about 12 per cent of the GDP of this country but the investment is negligible. I thank and salute Hon. Major Bashir for coming up with this Bill. It will add value and provide employment in terms of value addition for our poor Kenyans. I just want to mention some of the products. When you talk of dairy, there is whole milk. In Githunguri, Kiambu County, farmers rely heavily on dairy. They have adopted modern technologies in terms of production. If we want value for money we must add value to the products. If we promote value addition and have a good body that will regulate and supervise, it will add value to the common farmer. Those duopolistic entities are frustrating farmers. We call upon the relevant bodies or the CS in charge to look into it. This country is a liberalised market. That is why this Parliament in its wisdom passed the Banking (Amendment) Bill. Much as the banking industry has been liberalised, the players in the banking industry have been making abnormal profits. It will reach a level where we must do the same in the dairy industry. These two companies - KCC and Brookside - are making abnormal profits and frustrating farmers in terms of pricing. They must look for a way of pricing in a competitive manner such that farmers can also get value for their money. Another issue is about our pastoralists. A big part of this country is semi-arid. We are aware of the Galana-Kulalu ghost project where the production per acre of maize only comes to 5 to 10 bags. In certain parts of the Rift Valley, you can be assured of 20 bags where God has blessed us with good rains. It is time the Government focused on priority products. I looked at the formation of the board. I know Hon. Bashir is listening and will be answering questions. When we form this board, it will be a State corporation. State corporations are guided under the State Corporations Act. It will be very critical that as we move forward in terms of the composition of the board, we borrow from the State Corporations Act. Livestock, as per Schedule IV of the Constitution has been devolved. It will be important for the Council of Governors to also have a slot as far as the composition of that board is concerned. Obviously, there will be a CEO. If there is a CEO under the State Corporations Act, there is guidance. We have parastatals where a CEO serves for three years and others for five years renewable. We do not need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the composition of the board. We should borrow from the State Corporations Act which will help us. The Kenya Meat Commission was a wonderful idea. Look at the kind of animals they buy. There is something called good manufacturing practices (GMP). If the raw materials are sub-standard, the output will also be affected. You find that some of those animals are emaciated. This country has a lot of potential in terms of beef production because of the nature of the ASALs. We can produce so much beef that we can export and bring in foreign direct investment (FDI). How I wish that those particular counties would focus and give priority to that issue because it will add a lot of value. We cannot be legislating in vain. In the last Parliament, I brought a Bill to this House which was assented to by the President on the establishment of a fertiliser board. We have had a lot of issues when it comes to crop production. We know very well fertiliser plays a very critical role. Up to now, the board has not been put in place. We are talking about six years down the line since the Bill on the establishment of a fertiliser board was passed. 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."
}