Committee to Consider Proposal On Agriculture And Food Authority Bill, 2023.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, chaired by Kirinyaga Sen. James Kamau Murango held a meeting today to consider a Report on the Mung Beans Bill, 2022 (Senate Bills No. 13 of 2022) and a Report on the Agricultural and Livestock Extension Services Bill, 2022 (Senate Bill No. 12 of 2022)

The committee further considered a Legislative proposal on the Agriculture amd Food Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The principle object of the Bill is to amend Section 43 of the AFA Act, 2013 to exempt cashew nuts, macadamia nuts and bixa from the ban on export of raw produce.

The Bill is also aimed at enabling farmers to add value to by-products such as macadamia kernels which are currently being disposed off. Additionally, the ammendment will stop smuggling of macadamia nuts to neighbouring countries which has been denying Kenya foreign exchange earnings.

Members who were present during the meeting were; Nyeri Sen. Wahome Wamatinga, Makueni Sen. Daniel Maanzo, Nominated Sen. Beth Syengo, and Bungoma Sen. David Wakoli.