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{
    "id": 770037,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/770037/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 260,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Okello",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13209,
        "legal_name": "Ben Oluoch Okello",
        "slug": "ben-oluoch-okello"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this chance to support the Motion, even though it is quite a challenge to talk on this subject after Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri. We normally say that agriculture is the mainstay of Kenya’s economy, yet only 20 per cent of the land is arable. The remaining 80 per cent is either arid or semi- arid. The 20 per cent is also facing the challenges of climate change, which has now affected our reliance on rain-fed agriculture. Recently we even imported maize from Mexico. We are becoming a country that is fond of importing. We even import mitumba shoes despite the fact that we have local hides and skins. We also import mitumba clothes after allowing our cotton industry to die. It is time that we came up with a policy on irrigation, which can sustain our agriculture for the benefit of this country. In the past, this sector was left to rely on donor funding. That means that whenever donor funding was not available, the projects had to die. We have seen so many of them remaining dormant because of lack of funding. We do not put enough effort to follow up. In my County, Migori, the Kuja Irrigation Scheme was capable of supporting the whole county and even Kisii County, which is currently supporting us yet they have small farms. I support this Motion because it will help us move from overreliance on rainfall and increase arable land. This will in turn increase employment opportunities for the youth. Currently, the 20 per cent arable land is able to support more than 60 per cent of the rural folk. At the same time, it contributes more than 30 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). If we increase arable land, we will do better. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support."
}