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{
    "id": 1221229,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1221229/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 327,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheptumo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13591,
        "legal_name": "Cheptumo William Kipkiror",
        "slug": "cheptumo-william-kipkiror"
    },
    "content": "Whereas I appreciate the President for initiating the programme of supplying fertilizers which is under the subsidized programme, the seeds are equally another item I would like to request the Government to reconsider. If the Government subsidizes fertilizers as well as seeds, that will go a long way in helping our farmers. Baringo County unfortunately was not among the initial counties that were earmarked to benefit from this programme. I have never been able to know why Baringo was not included in the first instance. Perhaps, it is due to the perception that Baringo - which is true - is 60 per cent Arid and Semi-Arid. However, let me inform the country and this House that 35 per cent to 40 per cent of Baringo County is a high potential agricultural area. The entire of Eldama Ravine, almost 70 per cent of Mogotio Constituency, 60 per cent of Baringo Central, about 50 to 60 per cent of Baringo North, part of Tiaty, a big portion of Baringo South; so, I think that the perception that existed then. However, I am happy that after intervention because we had a moment to share this with the Head State as leaders of Baringo. I am happy because of the report I have. I also spoke to our former colleague who is now the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development. Baringo will be among the counties that will benefit from this programme. It is important that we facilitate our farmers. We should enable them to undertake farming because as said earlier, the subsidies provided for initially did not address the challenge that we have. So, food production in our country is important. We should have dams that our Government is planning to do. Once we complete Chemususu, Perekei, Amaya and other dams which the Government agreed to do, irrigation will be undertaken. I want to assure you that this country will be self-sufficient in terms of food production. That is the right way to go. Finally, as the Government provides subsidised fertiliser and as we think of providing subsidized seed, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development should be able--- When we were growing up, we used to have extension officers in our farms in the villages. Today, we do not have those officers in our farms. It is high time the Government looked at this holistically. That is the only way because ours is an agricultural country. If we invest more in agriculture, our country will stop importing food and we are going to be self-sufficient in our supplies. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I thank Sen. Kinyua for this Statement. I request my friend, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development to ensure that Baringo, a county that is faced with challenges of insecurity, is given enough fertilizer, so that every farmer in Baringo benefits, to ensure that we have enough supply of food for our people. I thank you and I support."
}