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{
    "id": 1096432,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1096432/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 278,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Wajir South, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mohamed Mohamud",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13506,
        "legal_name": "Mohamud Sheikh Mohammed",
        "slug": "mohamud-sheikh-mohammed"
    },
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I am quite happy to contribute to this Bill. It is important that we realise that the Bill will add value to the enactment of the irrigation laws. It is important that we must also realise that this country is dependent on importation of food when this country has a potential to be able to feed its population, to provide for its people and reduce the amount of malnutrition that does occur year in, year out. We are facing severe drought in this country and we are also facing severe hunger that is on its way. The challenges that we had in the past is that we were depending on international donor food – food that is transported in various stores that eventually produce a lot of aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are critical matters that evolve to cancer, particularly cancer of the throat, mouth and the stomach. We have realised that a lot of the foods that were brought for relief would have gone through storage that may not be quite conducive. However, if this country gets its act together; invests in irrigation, provides sufficient resources to the irrigation institutions, then we will be walking with our heads high up in the sense that we will be able to provide for our people and export whatever remains. For example, the largest river that passes through this country, which is also the longest, is Tana River. Tana River passes through very critical places and important lands that require irrigation. The water that comes from the highlands eventuates into the Indian Ocean unnecessarily. That is spillage of resources that would have otherwise created a lot of jobs and made this country more productive. Eighty per cent of this country is a dry land and this 80 per cent that is dry would be useful in agriculture, if irrigation was seriously undertaken. Therefore, this Bill will give us the direction in the best way to have societies that can come together and organise themselves to provide for the country. One thing that really needs to be taken into consideration is the Tana River again. It passes through a large area that is sort of a desert or semi desert. If the water that passes through is released, Wajir South that is almost 200 kilometres away from Garissa would get that water and start irrigation and use it for livestock and the rest. Now that is not happening, it is not only about providing the law, but it is about investing in irrigation. It is not about ensuring that the Acts have been enacted in this Parliament, but it is about the utilisation of those Acts so that they can make a difference to every member of our society and it can reach everywhere. One other thing that I really want to add is that water pans and the dams that are developed are done haphazardly and unfortunately, without consultation of which areas are of value that can be utilised and that can have a higher yield and productivity. That has been overtaken by events and I really want to see that these laws that we are enacting in Parliament must carry the human results. Why do I use the term “human results”? What I am talking about is delivery to the people exactly the resources that are necessary and that should be utilised. We have been establishing a lot of laws based on this, but that seems to be only on matters of paperwork. The reality is that it does not concomitantly flow with resource allocation. That is quite necessary and important for the people that are on the ground. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}