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{
    "id": 380290,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/380290/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 76,
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    "content": "more from that trade. We also have livestock breeders and we also have dairy products which are key in terms of exports. What is important and what has also been mentioned in the Motion is the role it plays in employment. Various Motions that we have discussed in the last couple of weeks touch on this key issue of employment, especially among the youth. If we think about pastoralism even in terms of training and preparation, maybe the level of preparation is not high, but the employment value is huge and is potentially there. So, if it is possible, we should ensure that we improve in this particular sector then, indirectly, we will be solving all the other problems that have to do with unemployment of the youth. When we think about employment we are thinking about the level of herding but also at the level of industries, at the level of preparing materials for exports and at the level of having abattoirs where we shall have skilled people. More than 60 per cent of livestock is found in arid and semi arid lands (ASAL) and employs 90 per cent of the total population in those areas. Therefore, this has to be encouraged among the arid and semi arid areas. There are other issues that need to be looked at. Issues such as unemployment are critical. Issues such as drought make pastoralism and taking care of animals more complicated. That makes sure that the productivity is not at the point where livestock keepers can gain. This is an area that remains untapped for various reasons. The question is; why has livestock been ignored? I will position that it is not the livestock sector alone that has been ignored but also the whole agricultural sector. There is an importance to the agricultural sector in the sense that 80 per cent of our population resides in the rural areas and engages in some form of agriculture, including livestock rearing. However, when it comes to policy formulation, investments, technology and monies that are put into agriculture, those levels are still very low. Investment levels being very low has not allowed farmers to exploit the latest technology, keeping diseases at bay, ensuring that livestock remains are put into use. There is need for commitment to reform this sector. For there to be a change in policy, that commitment needs to be put into place. Sen. Lesuuda’s idea that abattoirs be put in every county is very noble. I support the Motion. This will ease the whole process of getting cattle to the abattoirs. By decentralizing these abattoirs in each of the counties, this will make it easier to get the cattle there faster and probably curtail the spread of diseases. This will avoid congestion. We also need to discuss the level of those abattoirs. What sort of structures will they have? What sort of structures will they have? Other than looking at it in terms of abattoirs in specific counties, we need to broaden and think not only about the abattoirs but the level of coordination within the agricultural sector. How can all the key players be coordinated and play a role to improve the agricultural and livestock sector? Going by the statistics and the data that Sen. Lesuuda has given us, this is something that needs to be taken into consideration and a lot of thought put into it. Thank you."
}