By Ken Langat
Over 17000 dairy farmers from Baringo County have cast aspersions on the proposed BBI Bill fearing that some good clauses would be thrashed if subjected to referendum.
Led by Baringo Agriculture Marketing Saccos and Cooperative Societies (Bàmcos) Chairman Samwel Salbei, they stated that clauses mitigating farmers woes should be salvaged through an Act of Parliament.
BBI made sweeping recommendations targeting the agriculture sector and also proposed reforms integrated to salvage the stiffled sector.
The document has clauses that guarantee maximum returns, price fixing and establishment of institutions responsible for market linkage.
It also has the enhancement of livestock breeding, provision of measures for disease control of livestock and other reforms.
Salbei stated the only gift the MPs with goodwill from across political divide would give Kenyans is to speed up passing clauses that cushion farmers from vagaries of production, marketing and the weather calamities.
He added that the move would spur the dwindling economic situation in the country and elevate farmers from financial doldrums.
Salbei was addressing jubilant gatherings drawn from Ainamoi constituency in Kericho County who were hosted in Kiplombe location of Eldama Ravine constituency.
” The much hyped Agenda 4 had been swallowed by BBI hence the only gift and legacy the 10th Parliament would be remembered and referred to by the future generation is passing clauses that could jumpstart the economy and agricultural production,” Salbei pleaded.
He cited the Tea Bill which was passed recently in through parliament and appealed to the MPs to speed up reforms dairy sector.
“Dairy farmers are currently operating under the mercy of cartels, imported cheap milk products from neighbouring countries, high cost milk production which needs to solved through the law,” he stated.
He revealed that Bàmcos has over 17000 dairy farmers in 20 societies across the county.
