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{
    "id": 654170,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/654170/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 112,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Ottichilo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 131,
        "legal_name": "Wilber Ottichilo Khasilwa",
        "slug": "wilber-ottichilo"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I rise to support this very important Bill. I thank the Leader of the Majority Party and, particularly, the framers of our Constitution for realising the importance of our indigenous seeds and plant varieties. For centuries, our local people survived very well using local seeds, foods and plant varieties. However, with the advent of the so-called development, most of our seed varieties were abandoned or neglected and we adopted new exotic plant seeds, which have many advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, over years, we have lost most of our plant species. Most of them are lost or are found in very restricted areas – what we call endemic areas. This Bill is very important in the sense that we shall collect all these indigenous seeds and plant varieties and store them. We shall also carry out research to find out how we can re- domesticate them so that we can use them. Because most of these plant seeds and varieties are indigenous in this continent or in our country, they are very resistant to many diseases, unlike the exotic seeds and plant varieties. Therefore, by getting back our indigenous seeds, we will enhance our food security and ensure that our people and the country is food secure. This Bill is going to create a lot of opportunities for our young people in the universities. Many of our universities are currently teaching various disciplines. Among them is the biotechnology discipline, which deals with genetic engineering. Because we have not had an institute or a centre that deals with genetic research and engineering, most of these very brilliant youngsters have graduated from the university with degrees in molecular genetics and biotechnology but have not been able to get a job. It is sad to find some of them in the streets selling merchandise from China and all over the place when we could use them to do very important research for this country. So, once this Bill is assented to and the Plant Genetics 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."
}