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{
    "id": 392103,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/392103/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 116,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "(Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki): Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. The mechanisation of these industries should be consistent with the objectives of this nation on job creation so that a balance is struck between mechanisation for enhanced productivity on one hand and on the other hand a labour initiative that tries to creates jobs for our people. That balance needs to come out in such policies. The other area which has been forgotten is the area of extension services and the support to farmers given by the Government. Under the new Constitution now, the role of extension services in agriculture lies in the county governments. What the national Government can do is to provide the agriculture policy but majority of the substance of agriculture like crop and animal husbandry falls within county governments. Again, that is something that the Mover of the Motion needs to perhaps reflect on because, actually, much of what is required to be done - the recipient of the resolution actually should be the county government and not the national Government because of the new scheme of devolution under our Constitution. Madam Temporary Speaker, having said so, many Kenyans will remember the days when we had extension officers in the villages to support crop and animal husbandry. This system has died in total and those services no longer exist. Perhaps time has come for us to think of some form of model legislation for counties which can help support and legalise extension services. I am saying this because counties need to share experiences and benchmark with each other. If we get extension services correctly, then crop husbandry will automatically be addressed. This is the missing link between agriculture in Kenya and agriculture in other countries. Madam Temporary Speaker, as I wind up my contribution, I also want to say that there is a link between the performance of our agricultural sector and national security. Those who have followed discussions at the World Trade Organization (WTO) debates will realise that agriculture is one of the most contentious topics in international trade negotiations. Every country in the world tries to protect its agricultural sector because any country that is not food sufficient and does not sustain itself agriculturally cannot even sustain national security. If you want to see riots even in the most stable democracies, they will revolve around food and agriculture. That is why countries subsidize agriculture. The reason I am making this point is because this Motion is calling for subsidization. I know there are debates which are sometimes supported by those who believe in liberal economics and liberalization of trade. If developing countries want to have national stability and national cohesion, they must continue subsidizing agriculture. In fact, it is ironical that even some of the rich countries continue to subsidize agriculture The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}