Mudavadi promises farmers good returns

Written By:KNA,    Posted: Sun, Feb 03, 2013

Mudavadi addressing a rally at Lessos, in Nandi County Amani Coalition presidential candidate and Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi Sunday promised to ensure that exports from agricultural produce earn better returns to farmers when he forms the next government. Hinting that he will carry out drastic reforms in the agricultural sector, Mudavadi said commodity prices in the international market should earn Kenyan farmers better prices with a reformed management of agriculture and marketing systems in the country. "I brought reforms as minister for agriculture so that now farmers own tea factories .Right now; there is a lot of wastage instead of value addition. Farmers will no longer work for other people's benefit from their toil.  I intend to carry out more reforms by streamlining the management of agriculture as the mainstay of our economy", he said when he addressed a rally a Lessos, in Nandi County. He said Kenya Tea Development Authority was restructured to Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) as a body owned by farmers to manage their factories. On Saturday, Mudavadi traversed the agricultural heartland of Nandi County with the message that "our exports depend on the respect an elected government earns within the international community" and cautioned against electing leaders who might put the country at loggerheads with other nations. "You have a stake in ensuring that your leaders earn respect from other countries because you sell your tea abroad. If a government is not accepted by others, the economy is in peril because no one will buy our tea. Be careful with your vote", he cautioned. Mudavadi said he will restructure KTDA to ensure deliveries by farmers are not manipulated and management costs are brought down to enable farmers earn more. The DPM noted the land lease will be resolved by the County Land Commissions as mandated by the constitution and no one should cheat that a president will solve the land issues. "If anyone tells you that they will solve land problems, know that they are lying or plan change the Constitution to return us to the old constitution which gave all powers to one person. We already have the National Land Commission and County Land commissions will be set up to solve problems of leases  and not the president", he told a massive crowd at Nadi Hills. Amani traversed Nandi County in two teams one led by Mudavadi and the other by Gideon Moi that included Bonny Khalwale, George Khaniri, Mark Too, Nandi Senate UDF candidate Ambassador Stephen Tarus, Governor candidate Judah Bett, and a host other Amani candidates. Eagle Alliance presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth Sunday took his vote hunting mission to Embakasi. Kenneth addressed a rally at Quarry in Embakasi where he urged voters to elect leaders of integrity Kenneth urged voters to elect visionary leaders who can help the country move to the next level. Meanwhile, Information and Communication Minister Samuel Poghisio who is  also eying the West Pokot county senatorial seat has promised to transform the county if residents offer him the chance to serve them.