Committee on Agriculture and Livestock in the National Assembly headed by its chairman, Member of Parliament for Moiben constituency Hon. Silus Tiren completed his coordinated tour of projects along the coast.
The panel of the committee accompanied by Hon. Owen Baya (North Kilifi) visited Kilifi County. This is after a special request for cashew farming which was submitted to parliament by Hon. Owen Baya.
When the committee arrived in Kilifi, it started the first session, with the office of Kilifi County commissioner Mr. Drunk Olaka. As is the custom in Parliamentary committees when they visit any place. Bw. Olaka warmly welcomed the committee and wished them well in Kilifi County.
The meeting with the farmers evoked a great deal of curiosity of cashew farmers including the history and history of Kilifi cashew farming and the entire coastal state. Many testified that cashew farming has been their main source of income for years, but since the factory was confiscated by crooks who used fraudulently to seize their factory, the price of cashew nuts has skyrocketed.
Mh. Baya told the committee with a lot of bitterness and regret, that in the past when the people of Kilifi owned the factory, the area was one of the richest in the country, but since the seizure of the factory they are now among the poorest parts of Kenya.
The meeting was attended by the Governor of Kilifi Hon. Amason Kingi who also expressed his outrage at the abduction and suffering of cashew farmers in his County.
Governor Kingi said, “This matter has been discussed for a long time and this request has been made by many people, we have conveyed our grievances to the State House, reports are holding dust in the big offices while the cashew farmer is here struggling to this day.
The current Minister of Agriculture, who is also the Deputy President, who also formed a special panel led by a young man from Kilifi, Safari Mumba but to this day we have not seen anything.
You know even if you take a patient to this hospital today, another day, tomorrow another day “I believe in this committee of Hon. Tiren and I urge you to be the last to talk about this and its recommendations to be fulfilled, so that farmers can get their due”.
The committee members were very impressed with the testimonies given by cashew farmers and promised to consider them very carefully in their report.
They encouraged farmers to form their own cooperative that would greatly help them find a market and boost their income.
The chairman thanked all those who attended and contributed to the discussion and assured them that he had heard their cries and that he as a farmer was deeply moved by the cries of his fellow farmers. They will do everything they can to ensure that the Farmer’s right is achieved.
