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{
    "id": 132386,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/132386/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 475,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Kuti",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Livestock Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 60,
        "legal_name": "Mohammed Abdi Kuti",
        "slug": "mohammed-kuti"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. Artificial Insemination services became very expensive after the Government pulled out from subsidizing the services, especially now when the demand is very high. We have reached a level of 600,000 inseminations per year, which is one of the highest in history, because of the good prices that farmers fetch for milk. The Ministry is now in the process of negotiating with the Treasury, so that some sort of subsidy for AI services can be put in place. Currently, there are lots of private practitioners, who are not only bringing very expensive semen but also semen of not very good quality, and with very high failure rates. The AI Service at Kabete has now installed a Kshs50 million nitrogen plant for cooling purposes. This plant will go a long way in contributing to the quality of semen by keeping it at the required temperature and for delivery to various farmers. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the privatisation of this service was hurriedly implemented, despite the fact that it was a very critical service to the dairy sector. This was done very hurriedly, and without assessing the capacity of the private sector players to render the same. In areas where AI service providers are present, the service is expensive to most of the livestock keepers, resulting in use of low quality bulls. Another very crucial area that was privatised, which is affecting farmers very much, is dipping services, which have actually collapsed. This is one of the key disease control methods, especially for ticks. The use of sprays is not only ineffective since it only covers the top layer of the fur; it also has a degrading effect to the environment. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in order to reverse the above trend, my Ministry is training more private AI service providers at the Animal Health and Training Institute (AHITI), Kabete, and AHITI, Ndomba. The Ministry has also intensified the supervision of AI services. It has also planned to sell IA equipment to livestock keepers and other stakeholders at subsidized prices through the Central Artificial Insemination Centre (CAIC). Regarding tick control, my Ministry has successfully undertaken the dip wash strength analysis, and is collaborating with acaricide manufacturers and other stakeholders to develop an appropriate policy and legal framework in this area."
}