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{
    "id": 267941,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/267941/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 330,
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    "content": "which are under construction in different parts of the country. It is going to take time for some of these dams to come on stream for harvesting the rainwater, but this is a programme that is ongoing. Hon. Members will notice that in this year alone, quite a substantial amount of money has been allocated in the Budget for irrigation purposes. This is the sure route to making this country self sufficient in terms of food production and, therefore, there is a commitment in that direction. This also includes Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASALs), because our peasants suffer a lot during the drought period; their animals become emaciated and they finally die. So, we need to wean part of our population from overdependence on livestock, so that they can also begin some sedentary way of live. Mr. Speaker, Sir, hon. Kaloki asked about a question which I have already answered; it is about construction of large scale dams. A part of the question talked about the abundance of food in some parts of the country and scarcity in other areas. For example, in Kitale there is sufficient maize and in other areas we do not have it. That is the essence of what I am talking about; we need to stock the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) silos by buying maize from the farmers and then making it available to areas where there is a shortage. That is part of this policy statement which I making here today. Hon. Kiuna says that we should not import food, and I want to be understood very clearly on this. I have given the statistics here, first of the amount of grain or maize that is available in the country today. If we take that amount and also take the consumption of it in the country, which is 3 million bags a month, that comes to 36 million bags per annum, yet what is available in the country, if we take what is in the silos of the NCPB together with all the stock which is being kept by farmers, it is only 23 million bags. There is still a shortage of 13 million bags. So, if we do not import food, it means that we are going to reach a stage where there will be completely nothing to consume. Therefore, I want to plead with the hon. Kiuna to believe the statistics which I am giving here."
}