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{
    "id": 993708,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/993708/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 14,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Khaniri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 171,
        "legal_name": "George Munyasa Khaniri",
        "slug": "george-khaniri"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order No. 47(1) to make a Statement on a matter of national concern, which is the food security situation in the country and Government support to farmers. Kenya like most African countries is blessed with huge tracts of land and perfect climate conditions for agriculture, yet today, food is very expensive in the country and most families go hungry. It is unfortunate that the once vibrant sugar industry in the country is now on its deathbed. Today, we are faced with shortage of maize, beans and other foodstuffs. As a result, we are forced to import a big percentage of our food. A country that fails to ensure its food security will definitely perish. Food sustains the nation. In Kenya, agriculture is not only for food, but also one of the most important economic pillars. So important is food security that the current Government has identified it as one of the Big Four Agenda. The Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, identifies agriculture as a shared function between the national Government and county governments, but have the two levels of government treated it so? Currently, as a country, we are faced with pressing myriad challenges from COVID-19 pandemic, locust invasion, floods and landslides all over, all of which have had negative impact on agriculture. Madam Temporary Speaker, at the moment, it is sad to read in the newspapers that maize in the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) is rotten and hence, unsafe for human consumption. In Vihiga County today, the NCPB depots in Chavakali and Hamisi are empty. The colonial government concentrated mainly on export agriculture, a practice we inherited at Independence. Today, Kenya is known to produce the highest quality tea and flowers on the international market. This is good but, additionally, the Government should explore ways of improving agriculture for food security. While in the recent past there have been concerted efforts to increase the number of dams and establish irrigation schemes such as the Galana-Kulalu, much of these efforts have been shrouded with allegations of corruption and hence, they have not been productive. I have always been a strong believer of the fact that as a country, we are capable of producing enough food for our consumption and even export, only that the Government has over the years neglected and failed both large scale and subsistence farmers by not having the right policies and incentives. One of the greatest puzzles is how farmers sell their produce at very low prices, only for the processed products to cost more than double. For instance, a litre of milk from the farmer is at Kshs35, while the same processed milk is sold at Kshs100 per litre. The same case applies for maize. The processing aspect more than doubles the prize. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}