Patrick Kariuki Muiruri

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 11 to 20 of 158.

• 26 Sep 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. (a) I am aware that horticultural farmers in Kirinyaga District have suffered losses from exploitation by middlemen as they market their produce. (b) My Ministry is taking the following steps to protect farmers from exploitation:- (i) Mobilization of growers into marketing groups. (ii) Provision of market intelligence through radios, newspapers and Ministry of Agriculture information desks. (iii) Encouraging farmers to enter into contract farming with exporters. (iv) Educating farmers to enlighten them on their rights. (v) Involving other stakeholders such as Horticultural Crops Development Authority in addressing marketing problems. September 26, 2007 ... view
• 26 Sep 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have already admitted that the farmers are being exploited. However, they are exploited by their own people who are brokers. We are not able to control the brokers because they do so on a willing seller-willing buyer basis. However, I have underlined the steps we intend to take to educate the farmers and ensure that they get the maximum from their produce. view
• 26 Sep 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have already said it very clearly. We are educating the farmers on their rights and advising them not to sell their products through brokers, but through the Horticultural Crops Development Authority. It is up to the respective hon. Members of Parliament to educate their people that they are being exploited. view
• 26 Sep 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with all due respect to Mr. Angwenyi, I do not known what pyramid schemes are. However, coming to the issue that is before this House this morning; we, as a Ministry, have admitted that there are brokers who go round exploiting farmers. I am advising the hon. Members, and people at large, to sell their horticultural produce through the Horticultural Crops Development Authority. view
• 26 Sep 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is true that horticulture is a big foreign exchange earner for this country. In 2005, Kirinyaga District produced 5,401 metric tonnes of tomatoes which fetched Kshs149,510,000. In 2006, this rose to 9,275 metric tonnes valued at Kshs154,580,000. The district also produced 4,475 metric tonnes of French beans valued at Kshs163,000,000. This again rose to 5,356 metric tonnes valued at Kshs183,920,000 in 2006. These figures confirm that Kirinyaga District has a big potential in agriculture. This could even rise to three times more if the farmers would sell their produce through the Kenya Horticultural Crops Development ... view
• 25 Sep 2007 in National Assembly: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker,Sir. On 19th September, 2007, the Nominated Member of Parliament, Prof. Ruth Oniang'o, demanded a Ministerial Statement on the Sugar (Amendment) Bill, 2006. The bone of contention in this matter was that the Sugar (Amendment) Bill, 2006, has taken long to reach Parliament for discussion and enactment into an Act to enhance and steer development of the sugar industry. The object of the Bill is to seek amendment to the Sugar Act, No.10 of 2001, to enable it become more organised, realistic and practical. The Sugar Act, 2001, was reviewed by all the stakeholders for more ... view
• 25 Sep 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is not a matter for the Ministry of Agriculture alone. There is also the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Finance. There are also private companies like Shell, but I think she is right that we are now getting towards the end of September. If this matter was to come even next week, I do not think it is going to be through this year because I can see Parliament--- I do not see it happening in two weeks. view
• 25 Sep 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, that is not true! We are talking about the Sugar (Amendment) Bill, 2006, which is not five years back. I think in 2006 Prof. Oniang'o was not a new hon. Member. She joined this House in 2003. view
• 25 Sep 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Government has taken great care of the sugar-cane farmers by, first, reducing the interest rate on the Sugar Development Fund loans from 10 per cent to 5 per cent. The Government has also suspended and written off loans, interest and penalties of the Sugar Development Fund (SDF) to the tune of Kshs4.7 billion. view
• 25 Sep 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Government has not at all neglected the sugar farmers, because it has gone to the extent of settling arrears owed to the farmers to the tune of Kshs800 million! view