Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1218366,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1218366/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 174,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Abbas",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Agriculture is our mainstay and driver of our economy. However, it has been neglected for a long time. All focus has only been on the cash crops such coffee and tea as well as food crops such as maize. This country has diversity in food production such as cashew nuts and livestock. There are small scale-farmers who produce potatoes and all these other things have not been given much attention. That is why our economy is unable to grow. Seventy-five percent of this country is Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL). Every region has its produce. For example, cashew nuts are produced in Kilifi and along the coastal line. Livestock is in the Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL). However, they have been neglected. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is time we went back to the drawing board in order for us to grow our economy. In the past, there has been much diversification in crop production. The focus was not only on cash crops but food crops were also promoted as well as cashew nuts, pyrethrum and others. Lately, however, the whole focus is on maize, tea and coffee production. This is not sustainable for our economy. This is a middle-income country. We diversify so as to increase our source of revenue as well produce other cash and food crops. Sorghum can be grown anywhere. Today, this country has food scarcity and famine. Every time we talk about food, we only talk about maize, rice and beans while we can feed our people with nuts, potatoes and other foods. Cashewnuts are very nutritious and can be used on malnourished children and mothers. We should go back to the drawing board so that we can enhance and finance other crops and other production systems in different parts of this country. With those few remarks, I support."
}