Farmers want parliament to act with speed on their petition

NANDI, KENYA: North Rift farmers want the National Assembly to act with speed on a petition they forwarded about two months ago seeking support of parliament in addressing perennial challenges affecting them.
The farmers want the house committee on agriculture to deliberate on policy framework that will ensure agricultural producers access quality inputs on time and also effective financing of agricultural institutions to ease provision of services.
Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter who is a member of the committee said that the petition was already before parliament and that they expect it to be submitted to the committee once they resume from recess next week.
Farmer's representatives had in May petitioned the National Assembly seeking investigations into the quality of subsidised fertiliser that was used by farmers in the current crop season. It followed concerns over poor crop development after maize turned yellowish after germination.
They expressed fear that the discoloration of the crop could be due to 'effects of poor fertilizer' saying the trend might affect the final yield at the end of the season.
In the petition that was addressed to The Clerk, National Assembly and received on May 18, the farmers want investigations on where and who imported the subsidised fertiliser and also to establish whether it was certified by Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).