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{
"id": 207647,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/207647/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dr. Wekesa",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Science and Technology",
"speaker": {
"id": 137,
"legal_name": "Alfred B. Wekesa Sambu",
"slug": "alfred-sambu"
},
"content": "farmers. Now, when you move around Trans Nzoia District, the dams that are remaining are less than 10 per cent of the original number. That is because the equipment that was used in those dams has not been looked after. They have silted and nobody has done anything about it. So, I am asking the Ministry, as much as we want to conserve water, we must have a plan of August 22, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3401 maintaining dams which the Government has used money to build. We should also build more dams. By so doing, we shall have an opportunity to increase food production. Irrigation, as you know, can be life-saving in terms of food productions. Quite a number of times in this country, we have cried out loud for people to come and assist us with feeding Kenyans. There is no need for us to look for food from outside, if we have our plans in place. With irrigation, we can produce food throughout the year. Indeed, some people are already doing so. So, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am appealing for more dams to be constructed. The ones that have been constructed should be looked after by the Ministry. We should also be able to drain certain areas, such as my area. If we put in proper drains, we will make sure that we direct the water where we want it to go. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to address the issue of water hyacinth. With the new technology, we should be able to deal with that menace of the water hyacinth that is now causing havoc in Lake Victoria and other places. With the presence of the water hyacinth, farmers, especially fishermen, are finding it very difficult to fish. The environment around Lake Victoria is something that we have to deal with. Therefore, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am appealing that, apart from the usual things that the Ministry has been doing, we should now live in the technological era. We should look at new technologies of harvesting water so that, during the dry season, our people do not die of hunger. I also want to propose that this Ministry, including my Ministry--- I do not think people have realized that science and technology cuts across many of these Ministries. So, if we can give enough money to the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Water and Irrigation, we will be addressing some of these issues once and for all. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to thank you. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}