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{
    "id": 729177,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/729177/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 116,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndiema",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1067,
        "legal_name": "Henry Tiole Ndiema",
        "slug": "henry-tiole-ndiema"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to issue a Statement regarding preparedness for the planting season and supply of fertilizer and other farm inputs to farmers. The Government is taking measures to ensure adequate supply of seeds and fertilizers to farmers throughout the country. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has put in place measures to ensure adequate seed and fertilizer supply and distribution to farmers. Seed has the greatest potential to increase farm productivity and enhance food security compared to other agricultural inputs. In order to ensure constant supply of seed for crop production, Kenya Seed Company adopted irrigated seed production due to changing weather patterns by installing its own pivot irrigation system and utilising the National Irrigation Board infrastructure. Over 30,000 acres are put under irrigated seed production annually, which is expected to double by 2018. Currently, the seed companies in the country have 48,000 metric tonnes of maize seed against an annual demand of 35,000 metric tonnes which is adequate for farmers to plant during the short rains of 2016 and the long rains of 2017. Fertilizer distribution to counties is mainly through the elaborate NCPB depot network and some farmers’ cooperative societies. In areas where depots are far from farmers, NCPB normally opens satellite selling points at strategic points. Mr. Speaker, Sir, fertilizer allocation to various counties is based on intensity of agricultural activities, county uptake trends and seasonality of the time of distribution."
}