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{
"id": 206402,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/206402/?format=api",
"text_counter": 126,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Obwocha",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Planning and National Development",
"speaker": {
"id": 356,
"legal_name": "Henry Onyancha Obwocha",
"slug": "henry-obwocha"
},
"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the current key sectoral developments that we have targeted are as follows: On livestock development, a broad-based livestock development programme under the implementation of the ASALs is to improve the welfare of the communities. Similarly, the Government gives priority to the marketing of livestock in these areas. Private sector entrepreneurs are encouraged to establish slaughterhouses and other viable marketing channels to exploit the market. The current development of the ASALs focuses on development of improved livestock marketing and infrastructure, facilitation of the private investment in meat processing, including strengthening the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) to help improve the purchasing, processing and marketing of livestock. This effort is supplemented by the rehabilitation of the existing community water pans, dams, boreholes, in collaboration with private sector, Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other development partners and facilitating production of small stock and camels through disease control measures, mainly by strengthening the community-based animal health approach. The second one is the non-conventional livestock. The ASALs have huge potential in non- conventional livestock, which include ostrich, guinea fowls, donkeys, buffaloes, crocodiles and snakes. Ostrich farming is the major enterprise in this sub-sector due to the current awareness of its potential in the global market. The Maasai Ostrich characterised by its large body size is the fastest- growing bird of its kind in the world. It has low cholesterol meat and this is important because cholesterol is fairly dangerous to the humans. On bee-keeping, the country's potential for agricultural development is estimated at 100,000 metric tonnes of honey and 10,000 metric tonnes of bees wax. Only about one-fifth of this potential is being exploited. The bee-keeping industry has displayed a growing partnership between the public and private sector in equipment acquisition, training, technology development and August 29, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3541 transfer, research and marketing of the products. Therefore, appropriate measures are under implementation to address quality control and maintenance of standards. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on traditional food crops, the country is generally self- sufficient in pulses including pigeon peas, green grams, root crops, including the sweet potatoes, cassava and yams; millet, sorghum, traditional vegetables. Amongst these traditional crops, the root crops are the highest starch producers per unit area, with relative low input requirements compared to other crops. Their adaption within varied climate ranges include the ASALs and drought. Therefore, the resistance gives them an important stake in Kenya's economy. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the following measures are currently being adopted towards the maintenance of this food security: The promotion of production and utilisation of these crops; the development and promotion of appropriate production technologies to enhance the output; the research aimed at developing high-yield varieties of traditional food crops; consumer sensitization of nutritional values of the traditional food crops; development of marketing channels and efficient information systems for these crops; promotion of small crops agro-processing industries based on traditional food crops; improvement and marketing systems and improvement of financial systems. The Government is focusing on the exploitation of potential for the commonly-based irrigation rain-fed agriculture by concentration on drought-resistant high-yield and commercial crops such as cotton, oil seeds, horticulture and root crops. On the human resource development in ASALs, this remains a big challenge and it is on top of our agenda. The Government is working towards the improvement of health, education, nutrition and skills on the people, in order to enhance the productivity in these areas. Some of these are: (i) Low enrolment in free primary schools, high drop-out rates, high proportion of untrained teachers and lack of basic equipment and materials. (ii) The seasonal movement of pupils across the ranch lands. (iii) The inability of the nomadic parents to meet the direct costs of health, education, and partly due to over-dependence. (iv) The attitudes and values of modern education. So, to this extent, the Government is addressing the issue of human development in these areas. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the development and maintenance of physical infrastructure is key to rapid and sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction in arid and semi-arid areas. The poor physical infrastructure in the region has constrained growth and development. To address that poor state of service delivery, steps are being undertaken to revitalise and improve efficiency in the infrastructure services in the region through systematic gravelling and re-gravelling of rural access roads and providing other supporting infrastructure. The initiatives include the implementation of the labour-based Roads 2000 Programme and the construction of the main inter-state trade routes from Isiolo-Marsabit-Moyale and Garissa-Wajir-Mandera. The development of those roads will go a long way to open up business opportunities within that region. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, access to adequate and reliable water supply is not only crucial for poverty reduction, but also an important element in socio-political stability. In this regard, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation is drilling a number of boreholes, constructing dams and water pipes in areas with potential for agriculture production for domestic and export markets. To ensure sustainability of investment in the water utilities, the Government is encouraging active participation of local communities and authorities, to manage and operate them on a cost-recovery basis. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the development strategy that we, as a Government, 3542 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES August 29, 2007 have adopted in arid and semi-arid areas includes the following:- (i) To enhance the level of community participation in development interventions. (ii) To incorporate indigenous knowledge as an input to sustained planning and the use of natural resources. (iii) To continue close collaboration with NGOs, development partners, pastoralists, traders and other interested parties to promote the development potential of arid and semi-arid areas. (iv) To promote an appropriate land tenure in arid and semi-arid areas, which recognises the diversified land capabilities, seasonality of use and tailored to optimise production. (v) Support in conflict resolution. In order to do that, we shall utilise the existing arrangements within the communities for doing so and further increase the capacity of Government to address the security issues in those areas. Finally, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in crafting Vision 2030, which we are now getting views from the people of this country, we have included the development pattern of the those areas in achieving this Vision. Therefore, if the views of the people from those areas are given - we are collecting them right now - we are going to include them in this scheme. I want to tell this House that the Government has no objection. If the hon. Member thinks that this is the manner in which she wants to assist the Government to put the ideas together, we have no objection to this Motion. I, therefore, want to confirm that the views that the hon. Member has expressed are being collected. We are putting them together for purposes of Vision 2030. We want to encourage all Kenyans to give their views. Vision 2030 is the economic pillar which is going to raise our economic growth from the current level, which is 6.3 per cent to 10 per cent. We want it to grow at that rate for the next 20 years. There are a number of areas that we want to address when we are addressing the economic pillars such as the infrastructure, agricultural development and the increase in production in arid and semi-arid areas. Those are the areas, amongst many other areas, that we will address in the economic pillar. On the social pillar, we want this country to have a clean environment and equitable distribution of resources. Lastly, we want a people-centred, issue-based political and democratic system. I want to join other hon. Members in congratulating the hon. Member for bringing this Motion and indicate the Government's approval. We have no objection. This will go a long way in enhancing and promoting what we intend to include in Vision 2030. Thank you."
}