Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 132340,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/132340/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 429,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "of changes in agriculture. For example, last year, they really subsidized fertilizers and seed, so that our farmers were able to do a lot. I want to thank them for that. I also want them to change from the normal agricultural way to, at least, increase irrigation areas, so that we can be self-sufficient in our food production. They should also intensify research because we have seen in the past that many research farms have now been sold and there is no more research that is being done. So, if they can increase their allocation on research, we can have better food and start growing other crops than the normal maize and wheat. If we did this, I think we will be self-sufficient in the near future. We should also have storage facilities for other kinds of food crops than cereals, because we normally just store grains. We do not have any other storage facilities for other kinds of crops. The Ministry of Agriculture should also be supported and liaise with the Ministry of Industrialization, so that we do not sell crops such as coffee to other countries at the original value. It should be value added before it is sold out so that we can, at least, plough back more money in the agricultural sector. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we should also encourage people to start drip irrigation. This is because currently, what people are doing is using a lot of water and yet, we are having a shortage of water. So, they should encourage drip irrigation and have the agricultural extension officers going to the field to educate our farmers on how to do it and even sponsoring them by partnering with other banks, so that we can have enough food for storage. The Ministry of Agriculture is actually the backbone of Kenya. A hungry person is a dangerous person. So, if the Ministry of Agriculture can be well funded and it uses the funds well--- They are using it well, but it is only that we do not actually give them enough funds. We should support them and make sure that the Minister for Finance listens to their budget proposals and takes them seriously, so that we have the Ministry of Agriculture being the backbone of the country. We have run down so many sectors, including pyrethrum which used to do very well. We used to grow a lot of pyrethrum, but currently, we cannot because even the farmers who grew it were not paid. If the Ministry could pay and encourage them to continue growing that pyrethrum, we shall revive the pyrethrum industry."
}