18 Feb 2021 in National Assembly:
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. No. It should not appear like I am standing in for Hon. Silas Tiren. I just have an observation that the line between agriculture and trade is very thin. The only difference here is that we are talking about issues to do with farmers that crosses over to agriculture. Hon. Onyango Oyoo’s request for statement is heavy on matters trade. I wish to seek your guidance whether the Committee on Trade should not be involved in prosecuting this matter…
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18 Feb 2021 in National Assembly:
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. No. It should not appear like I am standing in for Hon. Silas Tiren. I just have an observation that the line between agriculture and trade is very thin. The only difference here is that we are talking about issues to do with farmers that crosses over to agriculture. Hon. Onyango Oyoo’s request for statement is heavy on matters trade. I wish to seek your guidance whether the Committee on Trade should not be involved in prosecuting this matter…
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18 Feb 2021 in National Assembly:
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute and support the Crops (Amendment) Bill. As it was said, Bixa is a drought resistant and pest-free plant that is widely grown in the coastal areas.
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18 Feb 2021 in National Assembly:
When I was in the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, we looked at the issue of Bixa in depth. We discovered that the benefits that this crop brings to the country and to the people of the coastal region are immense. That is the reason why we must move with speed to pass this Bill in order for the people of Kwale County to enjoy the benefit. There is a factory that deals with Bixa in Kwale County which is dilapidated because of lack of funds. It is a private entity. However, with a little support from the Government, ...
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18 Feb 2021 in National Assembly:
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute and support the Crops (Amendment) Bill. As it was said, Bixa is a drought resistant and pest-free plant that is widely grown in the coastal areas.
view
18 Feb 2021 in National Assembly:
When I was in the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, we looked at the issue of Bixa in depth. We discovered that the benefits that this crop brings to the country and to the people of the coastal region are immense. That is the reason why we must move with speed to pass this Bill in order for the people of Kwale County to enjoy the benefit. There is a factory that deals with Bixa in Kwale County which is dilapidated because of lack of funds. It is a private entity. However, with a little support from the Government, ...
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18 Feb 2021 in National Assembly:
I am aware that the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) is a 10-year document which must give effect to Article 43 of the Constitution which says that every person has a right to be free from hunger. By all standards, this is an excellent document. The Government must move with speed to implement the nine flagship programmes that are listed under ASTGS. The Crops (Amendment) Bill will find its way into that document, so that it can attract the benefit. The Government has put in place many programmes that would generally eliminate hunger and secure the country from ...
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18 Feb 2021 in National Assembly:
I am aware that the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) is a 10-year document which must give effect to Article 43 of the Constitution which says that every person has a right to be free from hunger. By all standards, this is an excellent document. The Government must move with speed to implement the nine flagship programmes that are listed under ASTGS. The Crops (Amendment) Bill will find its way into that document, so that it can attract the benefit. The Government has put in place many programmes that would generally eliminate hunger and secure the country from ...
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18 Feb 2021 in National Assembly:
The other issue we dealt with in the agricultural sector was the amendment of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA) Act of 2013. For some strange reasons, this Act collapsed over 13 Acts to be formed. We have realised that it is not working. We are now coming up with the Kenya Tea Board, Kenya Sugar Board, Sisal Board and Pyrethrum Board. We want to make all these boards function and to zone in the particular sector to help the Kenyan farmer who is most affected at the moment.
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18 Feb 2021 in National Assembly:
We also had an issue with the storage, which was addressed through the Warehouse Receipt System Act. We want the Government to also move with speed to implement or operationalise the Warehouse Receipt System Act, which seeks to help reduce post-harvest losses. It also seeks to help in price stabilization. It acts as an instrument to the farmer. In the event that there is excess supply in the country, farmers can take their commodities to the warehouses operated privately, but regulated by the Act, for them to get some advances.
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