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{
    "id": 1123687,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1123687/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 104,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "country. Climate change is one of my worries. Drought is dimming the future of agriculture in this country. I encourage the Committee to look at other sectors. They should encourage county governments to be creative in their budgeting. When I was young, we had many field officers visiting the villages. The veterinary officers would come and support the agricultural sector. Today, people are completely confused. I agree with the distinguished Senator for Bungoma County when he says that all the money, just like in the health sector, is left with the national Government yet agriculture, livestock and fisheries is a devolved function. How can we improve? There is the issue of the Agriculture Development Corporation (ADC). The other day, I saw that ADC had imported bulls worth Kshs10 million that are to be used to improve breeds. If I did not know much, I would actually be clapping and congratulating them with the hope of getting good breeds in this country. The truth of the matter is that the poor people do not benefit from such projects. It is only a cartel of rich fellows; the bourgeoisies of this country, who benefit. I hope that the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries will look further into that issue. In fact, when they see such an interesting activity happening at ADC, they should follow it up and table quarterly reports in this House to show how those bulls ended up supporting the small economies. I expect and hope that we will not only focus on pyrethrum and the sugar cane sector. What I have heard here today is that we kill state corporations then look for money to revive them. What if we support the local farmers who are in the dairy sector? The dairy sector thrives in Europe. The county governments should look at how they can add value to the dairy sector. The Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) was revived. Right now, pastoralists are suffering because of drought; their cows are dying. Why not come up with a programme that will support farmers when there is drought? The farmers can be given an opportunity to sell all their animals at a good price. The meat can then be sold overseas or it can be grounded and used to feed the military. When we were young, we used to enjoy when the military came to our place because they would give us canned food. The agricultural sector is vibrant in this economy. It can take this economy very far. The problem is that the policy makers spend most of their time going to conferences rather than sitting down with the county governments and coming up with unique ideas on how to support the local farmers. What worries me a lot is that all legislations that come here are focused on developing boards that end up coming up with policies that disadvantage and disenfranchise the local farmers. One of those sectors is the dairy sector. We know that the dairy sector is run by cartels. Instead of having track loads of vehicles moving from one county to another ferrying milk, why not encourage the farmers in those areas to have their own small mini plants that they can use to add value to their milk? As the Committee of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries thinks of getting into the second quarter, it will be good for them to carry out certain activities independently. They can decide to look at, examine and support a particular sector. We do not have to wait for Statements to be brought here. As a Committee, we are here to support our farmers. Agriculture can do well if we fully invest in it. The county governments should put a huge percentage to it. If you look at most of the budgets, you will find that health"
}