Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 565653,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/565653/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 377,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "implements like fertilizer which are necessary to facilitate food production. It is the duty of both levels of government to improve infrastructure such as storage facilities to ensure preservation of food and build good roads for easy transportation of food from food surplus to food deficit regions. Most importantly, is that both levels of government need to protect the environment and guarantee sustainability in matters of food production. This is the reason why I feel this Bill is important. The objective of this Bill is to provide a framework through which we can achieve our desire as a country to free ourselves from hunger and have access to quality and quantity food. In this Bill, both the county governments and the national Government will be compelled to put in place policies, measures, mechanisms and programmes to address the nagging question of food insecurity which has been a perennial challenge for us as a country. This Bill will make it possible for both levels of government to fulfill their obligations to every Kenyan in matters relating to matters security. I want to agree with Sen. Ong’era on one aspect. The function of agriculture is devolved. It was devolved for good reason; so that there would be flexibility at the lowest levels possible, so that individual counties can deal with the unique challenges that they face on a day to day basis in matters relating to food production. I, therefore, do not agree with the proposal to establish a National Food Authority. I do not think that is a wise thing. What we need instead are committees at county level. These committees should deal with food issues at that level. If there is any shortage of food in any particular section of the county, those committees will then come up with measures to handle that and where necessary to coordinate with other organs of the national Government in dealing with that particular situation. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, one other thing I want to mention in my contribution is that, I am aware that there are many communities in this country who are hard working and willing to be self-sufficient in food supply. There are communities which also occupy areas which have potential for food production but they cannot produce any food despite their willingness to do so because they have no access to water. These communities require assistance from their governments. In some of these areas where these communities live, we should invest in irrigation schemes to provide water which would free these communities from hunger and which will enable them access food. One time I served in the Ministry of Agriculture and I visited an area in Narok North Constituency called Mosiro. I visited that area because Kenya Agricultural Research Institution (KARI) was undertaking an irrigation project in that area on an experimental basis. They were investing little amounts of capital for that irrigation scheme. For the little investment in that area, the results were amazing. They were, for example, using the little water which they had been able to find through the irrigation initiative. They were growing maize and teaching the Maasai Community in that area how to grow maize. They had selected 32 women to participate in that programme. For these women, it was a complete transformation. Their lives were changed and they were able to produce food, not just for their families, but for the larger community within that 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."
}