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"content": "(Mr. I.E. Mohamed): Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to second this Motion, and congratulate the Minister and his team for bringing this Sessional Paper to the House. It is 45 years since Independence, yet we have not had a livestock policy. For the first time, a livestock policy has been brought here. That means a lot for livestock keepers. The importance of livestock in the economy of this country has been well covered by the Minister. Livestock brings billions of shillings to the Exchequer. This policy is going to give it the recognition that it deserves. Livestock is the backbone of very large communities in this country. Over 70 per cent of arid lands of this country rely on livestock. This policy seeks to improve their lot. The improvements that are being proposed are wide ranging, as you have heard from the Minister. I believe that when the livestock marketing systems will be put in place, as proposed in this Sessional Paper, the contribution of livestock will be much greater to this economy. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we lose billions of shillings due to diseases that affect livestock. Therefore, when we implement disease control plans as stipulated in this policy, we will save a lot of money and also livelihoods of millions of Kenyans. We also lose millions of shillings to drought. I would say billions of shillings! Whenever drought sets in, we lose a lot of livestock. By proposing that we have an off-take system in which we will preserve meat and milk as part of the national food security reserve, instead of the national cereals reserve, I think this policy is going to take us very far. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, very close to the hearts of many Kenyans is the fact that this policy is going to, for the first time, make camel as part of livestock in this country. Previously, camels have been treated as wild animals. Many Kenyans will be surprised when I say that camel milk is now being sold in our supermarkets and attracts Value Added Tax (VAT), as if it is not milk. I think the current definition of \"milk\", as I am told, is \"an excretion from a cow\". So, not only is it going to improve the lot of those who keep camels, but I think emotionally, it will also bridge the feelings of marginalisation by many camel keepers. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think we all know that research is very important and yet, very little effort has been made when it comes to livestock. I believe that the proposal that is being put forward by this policy, of ensuring that we have a Kenya Livestock Research Institute (KLRI), is going to further improve the livelihoods of livestock keepers. It is possible to improve our breeds. I will go back to the camel again. The camel, as it is, is milked four times a day. But I am told that, in countries which are not very far from us, improvements have been done where you can get up to 80 litres of milk from a camel. I am sure you could do the same with goats and cows if we conduct livestock research. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, a number of institutions have been proposed by the Minister. I think they will take the livestock industry very far. But I would like to say that we add some more. It is not because we just want to create many institutions. It is because that sector has 3204 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES October 30, 2008 been neglected for so long as compared to others in the agricultural industry. We need to put in more. So, I propose that the Minister considers setting up the Livestock Enterprise Fund, Livestock Development--- An equivalent of the Agricultural Development Corporation. I propose that we come up with a mechanism to give livestock insurance, so that people who keep livestock are able to insure their livestock against drought and other odds. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to second."
}