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{
    "id": 396172,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/396172/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 134,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. M’uthari",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1576,
        "legal_name": "Joseph M'eruaki M'uthari",
        "slug": "joseph-meruaki-muthari"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this important Motion, aware that milk and the whole livestock subsector are very important. Our country, Kenya, at times I see it as a land of contradictions. Sometimes we talk of excess milk and at other times we have shortages. We urge the Government to put more effort and facilitate the farmers, so that the prices of milk and milk products can be improved. Improvement of the prices will lead to encouragement of more farmers to invest in farming. As it has been said by many hon. Members, those countries that have been more serious have been able to stimulate the production by encouraging the producers. When the producers are encouraged then there is more production, and we can invest in energy for processing. In our country, at times we are faced with the problem of drought, or other disasters, and we have to get food from outside. Sometimes, we try to get some of the relief agencies, like the World Food Programme, to provide commodities which are not available within the country. If we have investors encouraged by the Government through public-private sector partnership they will establish factories. Such factories will make various milk products such as powder milk, which can be used here locally and exported. It is high time we, as a country, gave priority to where we need to invest; what are our areas of competence? Our country depends mostly on agriculture and this is where most of our people are employed. When you look at it, what is the level of investment by the Government in this sector? At times, we put our efforts where they do not pay. The Government should invest in both the central and county governments. Resources should also be invested at the local level; in various regions we should have investors being encouraged and supported to establish these factories. At the same time, the farm gate prices of commodities like milk should be improved; even if it means the Government investing and using resources to supplement the farmers, let that be done. This will encourage more farmers; if it is dairy farming, it will become a profitable activity. When it becomes profitable, I am sure many people will invest in the whole chain, from production, processing and marketing. We will increase the number of people working in this subsector. The Government could also buy this milk and give it to the school feeding programme. The most important thing is to encourage the processing of milk products. When milk products are processed, there will be a market for them; this enables us to increase and improve the prices given to the farmers. Once this is done there will be a multiplier effect, and more people will be employed in this particular subsector. We will export milk products to our neighbouring countries. Our missions abroad will not only market the country, but will also assist us in the marketing of milk products where they are stationed. This will improve the welfare and livelihood of our farmers, who are involved in dairy keeping. This will make our country’s economy grow, considering also that of late we have started discovering some minerals. What we need to do is put more efforts. The majority of our farmers keep livestock, but because of the poor prices this--- The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}