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{
    "id": 132446,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/132446/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 535,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "There are many factors that we must consider. The reality is that there is a climate change. However, this is not something that started yesterday. When we do not focus and think in terms of long-term programmes and projects, we are caught up in problems like the ones we have today. So, drought is not something new to us. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, we have seen several droughts in the past. We have seen that the cycles of drought are changing. We have also seen many floods. These are critical issues to deal with. So, we need to focus on how the Government can address such issues proactively, and not reactively. We need to focus on how the Government can strategically put in place measures to mitigate and address these problems in future. Livestock is a key subsector of our economy. We need to build the livestock industry, because it is the source of livelihood for many people. This is a subsector upon which many Kenyan communities depend. So, it is important that we give this Ministry the necessary support, so that it can facilitate and put in place a new technology in livestock development. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, people have talked about livestock being the leading source of income in Botswana. I do not want to repeat that fact. What I just want to talk about is the traditional way of doing things. We need to change our ways of addressing issues. I want to congratulate the Minister and his officials for thinking outside the box, trying to address issues and putting new systems in place. They cannot do all this unless they get critical support from the Government in the form of the resources that are required to address in full measure and weight, the problems that exist within this Ministry. There is the issue of carbon trading that is going on, and people are discussing it. I want to caution the Ministry that we, as the pastoralists in this country, and Africa as a whole, are suffering because of carbon issues. People are going to Copenhagen to discuss carbon trading. I understand that the Kenya Government is going to negotiate on behalf of our country. I want to see our Ministry of Livestock Development sitting there and negotiating on our behalf; it should not go for trading in carbon, but for compensation for all the losses we have incurred. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, we want to see the developed countries bringing adaptation programmes to Africa. We want to see mitigation programmes being brought to the African continent. We do not want to see Europeans and the developed world spoiling our environment, which then affects our livestock, which die because of destruction of the environment in the world. What I am saying is that we want a strong message to go out from this Ministry when it goes there to do the negotiations on carbon trading. In terms of opening up and looking for markets out there, I urge the Minister--- I know that there are many countries out there that are competing for the markets that are out there. Since the Minister is from a pastoralist community, and he has cattle, we want him to be proactive in looking for markets for our livestock; that is the only way the"
}