KIBAKI SUPPORTS DRAFT

President Mwai Kibaki Thursday declared his support for the draft constitution tabled in Parliament by the Parliamentary Select Committee.

Saying this is no time for political gimmicks but time to give Kenyans a new constitution, President Kibaki said the development of the country will move faster for the good of all once the new constitution is in place.

"Any few outstanding issues which have been raised by different sectors can be considered through consultations in the National Assembly," President Kibaki said.

The President was speaking at the Eldoret showground where he officially opened this year's A.S.K Eldoret National Show.

The Head of State lauded the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitution Review for making possible the Naivasha consensus which finally resolved key contentious issues that had stood in the way of the new Constitution.

In this regard, President Kibaki urged Kenyans to support the new constitution for the future good of the country.

"Let us all prepare to vote in the referendum to give our country a constitution that will best serve present and future generations," President Kibaki said.

He exhorted Kenyans to work together to create a stable, just and prosperous nation that they can take pride to call their home.

"Let us cherish and guard it and bequeath future generations one strong nation of prosperous and united people," the President said.

On Milk production, the President asked the ministries of Agriculture, Livestock Development and Cooperative Development to work together in ensuring that challenges facing dairy farmers are addressed adequately.

President Kibaki also advised farmers to form strong co-operative societies to undertake milk processing and diversify dairy products and markets.

The President urged farmers to mount an aggressive campaign to sell Kenyan milk abroad, an initiative the Government will fully support in view of limited processing capacity at the New KCC.

With regard to global warming, the Head of State noted that the challenges of climate change call for the concerted efforts of all Kenyans.

"It is for this reason that the Government recently announced that all farmers should devote 10 per cent of their farms to the planting of trees. I urge farmers to support this initiative so that we can be able to mitigate the effects of climate change," the President said.

Noting that food security remains a priority objective of the Government, the Head of State assured farmers that provision of subsidized fertilizer and seeds by the Government will continue during the coming long rains.

President Kibaki said the Government was applying short and long term interventions to ensure adequate food production in the country.

The Head of State noted that the Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, distributed assorted seeds and other planting materials at a cost of 1 billion shillings, with Rift Valley province receiving a total 619 metric tons of assorted seed valued at Kshs 72 million.

President Kibaki also disclosed that fertilizer prices through the National Cereals and Produce Board will be Kshs 2,000 for D.A.P., Kshs 1,400 for C.A.N., Kshs 2,000 for N.P.K., and 2,200 for M.A.P.

Outlining other measures the Government intends to take to increase food production, the President said the National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Programme will be up scaled to benefit about 175,000 small scale farmers.

"These farmers will access seeds and fertilizers worth 800 million shillings to increase maize production by 3.5 million bags," President Kibaki noted and advised farmers to take advantage of the improved services to enhance agricultural production.

With regard to infrastructure, The Head of State said the Government would continue to give priority to upgrading of roads in the country to open up huge agricultural areas and ensure transportation of farm inputs and agricultural products to the market in good time.

In Rift Valley alone, the President said rehabilitation of Mau Summit-Kericho-Awasi-Kisumu road would be starting soon while the Lanet-Nakuru-Njoro-Timboroa and Bomet-Litein roads are nearing completion.

On marketing of farm produce, President Kibaki underscored the importance of the cooperative movement, saying the Government will continue to provide support to viable cooperative movements.

President Kibaki said Rift Valley Province recorded an increase in cooperative societies from 885 active in 2007 with a membership of close to 500,000 to 993 active cooperative societies with a total of over 514,000 members in 2008.

"I believe the enactment of the New Sacco Societies Act 2008, will greatly improve the management of these institutions," noted the President.

On horticulture, the President said the industry has demonstrated sustained growth despite the stringent demands from our leading market destination.

"Export earnings in the province grew from 57 billion shillings in 2007 to 74 billion in 2008. This region has high potential for production of various horticultural crops due to its favourable weather and good soils," the President said.

He challenged farmers to take advantage of incentives offered by the Government to increase production.

In this regard, the President announced the initiation of two horticultural projects in the Rift Valley Province and assuring that the Government will continue to support farmers in this sub-sector in order to tap the huge potential that exists in this province.

The projects, Small-scale Horticulture Development Project and Smallholder Horticulture Marketing Project cost the Government kshs 4 billion.

The President said the Government has initiated construction of eight additional tea factories in support of Tea production in the region.

President Kibaki urged farmers to shun selling green tea leaf to illegal marketing agents so that these factories are utilized to full capacity.

He commended tea factories which have started to diversify their products to include other types of processed teas in order to improve net earnings.

To promote maize production, the Head of State said maize prices have been benchmarked to improve returns to farmers.

President Kibaki urged farmers to ensure proper storage of their produce and refrain from selling maize to unscrupulous middlemen, advising them to make use of Government facilities such as National Cereal and Produce Board.

During the occasion, President Kibaki launched the Ministry of Livestock Development' mobile veterinary laboratories.

In his address, Agriculture Minister William Ruto urged Kenyans to say no to empty political rhetoric and focus their energy to managing the challenges facing the country including food insecurity, poverty alleviation and unemployment.

"We are tired of power games. We should focus our energies to managing the challenges facing wananchi instead of engaging in non-stop politics," the Agriculture Minister said.

He assured Kenyans that the ministry of agriculture is committed to transforming agriculture into a viable commercial enterprise that will guarantee the country's food security.

Other speakers included Livestock Minister Dr. Mohamed Kuti, A.S.K National Chairman Justice stewart Madzayo and Eldoret National Show Chairman Joseph Kogos.

Present were several Assistant Ministers, Members of Parliament, civic leaders from the region and senior Government officials among others.