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{
    "id": 1569730,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1569730/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 198,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Teso South, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mary Emaase",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to this important Bill. The importance of agricultural extension officers cannot be over-emphasised. This Bill is very timely. It is coming at a time when farmers in this country are operating in an environment devoid of the basic knowledge, training and support that was being given by extension officers. Last year, I was working with a Community-Based Organisation (CBO) that I created in my constituency. We were trying to do some work in agribusiness. It was difficult to get extension officers. I had to seek the services of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO). Sometimes you even need to test the soil so that the farmer is advised on what crop to plant where for them to get the highest yield. Extension officers, as I remember, would even go to the field and offer demonstration services. Today, agriculture is one of the most evolving sectors. It is mechanised. There are new methods and technologies being used all over the world. We need these extension officers. If you look at our counties today, some do not even have extension officers. Those who are there are ageing and almost retiring. They have been phased out through natural attrition and have not been replaced. As we speak about this Bill, we must deliberately, as a House, make sure that enough resources have been allocated. Or we impress upon the counties to make sure they have allocated enough resources to facilitate extension officers and recruit more. Those who have a The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}