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{
    "id": 1569690,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1569690/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 158,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Moiben, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Phylis Bartoo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Speaker, they will transfer that knowledge to young people but there is a disconnect between the knowledge and the farmer. So, that information is just left in libraries and archives and may be in publications as theoretical papers. Nobody has translated that information to transform livelihoods, our farms or farmers. Hon. Temporary Speaker, if this Bill is given the justice it deserves, I am sure we will see some transformation. I am a product of agriculture; I went to school through agriculture because my parents were purely farmers, and we used to see people going around the farmers getting information and giving advice to our parents. They would advise them on the best practices, what type of animal breeds to keep, when there is a looming disease in the community and they would prepare them. Unfortunately, those services kept on dwindling; and now, I realise it seems the Government has not been employing extension experts to advise farmers. Farmers have been left at the mercy of quacks who masquerade as extension officers and charge them very exorbitant prices. I believe this Bill will solve such problems in our society so that we can get the best experts who are trained, who have the knowledge, capacity and who can train farmers in the language they understand. This is because not all farmers are educated. The Ministry of Agriculture is encouraging farmers, like in my community, to plant all sorts of crops, and keep all sorts of animals but without the relevant knowledge to go about it. For example, they are just sending coffee seedlings, avocado seedlings and different breeds of animals; these farmers are just on the receiving end. We politicians, also when we visit, we encourage them to diversify and plant different varieties of seeds but from a layman’s perspective. I am sure we are heading in the right direction because we will be able to get experts who will not just go to the field to train the farmers but mentor them and build capacity. With time, agriculture will transform our societies in a meaningful way. I also like the idea that in this Bill, licences will be given to the extension officers. They will be vetted to be licensed so that whenever they go to the field, they have proof that they are licensed officers to train farmers so that we eliminate cases like the one I referred to earlier about masquerades who visit homes in uniform and purport to be experts in everything. They talk about everything and we are not sure whether they have the capacity or know how of whatever they are professing. I support this Bill and look forward to a time when our farmers will get support, knowledge and capacity. I also read in the Bill that they will be well facilitated with loans to carry out the farming practices. So, I think it is a move in the right direction. Kenya being an agricultural country, we can take up agriculture and improve our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
}