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{
"id": 282914,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/282914/?format=api",
"text_counter": 474,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dr. Wekesa",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Forestry and Wildlife",
"speaker": {
"id": 209,
"legal_name": "Noah Mahalang'ang'a Wekesa",
"slug": "noah-wekesa"
},
"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this issue of drought affecting food security is paramount. Many people only talk about security being about guns and thugs but they forget that the worst thing that can happen to a nation is not to have enough food. Kenya today should not be one of the countries that are continuously importing food from outside. We are capable. We have a good climate in the areas that receive rain. We have good soils and we have experienced farmers. Gone are the days when mzungus would tell us that we cannot farm. Many Kenyans now know the technology of farming and we should support our farmers. We should support our farmers so that they can produce food and stop this practice of importing food every year. How do we do this? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we can do this by giving them money to purchase inputs in good time. The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has been doing a good job but they lack the funds to support the farming communities. So, as we talk about allocation of resources, we must make sure that the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of State for Special Programmes, receive enough funds, so that they can purchase fertilizers in good time. As a government, we know that every year, farmers must plant but we make fertilizers available in February or March. Fertilizers should be available in October or November and, latest, in December, so that the farmer can know what to do. If we are going to give money to the NCPB to purchase these inputs, we should do so in good time. By so doing, we will be making sure that farmers are not late in planting maize or whatever it is that they plant. Therefore, as we talk about this, it is important for us to recognise the fact that it is very important to have food security in our nation. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we cannot develop without research. You know very well that there is no country that does not allocate enough funds for research. The nations that have improved their economies have taken research very seriously. So, again, I want to implore the Treasury that in every Ministry, if there is a research component, enough funds should be allocated for research, so that we can improve our capacity to do research on crop and animal husbandry, road construction and in all other aspects of our development. The issue of insecurity has been highlighted by my colleagues but I just want to add a few comments. In this House, we have seen my colleague who is in charge of internal security constantly on his feat, answering Questions about insecurity in this country. So, as a Government, we must be aware that there is a problem. The reason for insecurity is that although we have very good officers who are doing their best, they do not have enough equipment. They do not have houses. They do not get good salaries. So, their morale is low. So, as we talk about allocation of funds, let us give enough funds to the Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security, so that they can buy vehicles and put up housing units, so that our police officers can stay in good houses."
}