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{
    "id": 1009007,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1009007/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 52,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kinyua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13202,
        "legal_name": "John Kinyua Nderitu",
        "slug": "john-kinyua-nderitu-2"
    },
    "content": "Madam Deputy Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly meted unequivocal and unprecedented negative impact on agriculture and food systems the world over. Due to the rapid disruption of the systems that sustain food chains, agricultural livelihoods are at risk. Recently, the World Bank predicted a potential reduction of 1 per cent on the 2020 economy if effects of COVID-19 will continue to persist. For an economy that is almost 30 per cent agrarian, this outlook paints a grim picture on the vulnerable segments of the population, part of which includes those that depend on farming. Arguably, this is a hard hit on the livelihoods of youth in agribusiness, who are about 10 per cent of the total employable youth population. The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) recently reported that about 350,000 jobs had been lost in the agriculture sector as a result of COVID-19. Climate change, dysfunctional markets, low productivity, policy lapses and a perennial poor perception of agribusiness are some of the pre-pandemic bottlenecks that are now being compounded by the contagion, an interplay that directly subjects the agricultural youth fraternity to a grim future as the virus continues to spread. Madam Deputy Speaker, Kenyan youth in agribusiness exemplify a situation that did not factor in such potential mega disruptions and is, therefore, bereft of measures for preparedness, response and recovery for these youth. In the absence of a precedent, listening to the voice of the youth is essential and co-creation of remedies is critical in order to confer the much needed resilience. The pathways for resilience should address a trajectory that seamlessly interconnects three core aspects; mitigating further infections, keeping agricultural services running and addressing long-term recovery within and around youth agribusinesses. The youth in agribusiness should be encouraged to understand that good health and work productivity co-relate positively. Any quarantine, isolation or hospitalization of young men and women in agribusiness will inevitably result in agribusiness downtime, with attendant effects on incomes and even closure of their ventures. Madam Deputy Speaker, the Government has put in place infection containment measures such as washing hands with soap, using hand sanitizers, social distancing and wearing of masks, but there is still an over-arching need by the Government and other The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}