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{
    "id": 770050,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/770050/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 273,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kihika",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13216,
        "legal_name": "Susan Wakarura Kihika",
        "slug": "susan-wakarura-kihika"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to reply. I thank all the Senators for the very important contributions they have raised. Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri, I believe that was a wealth of experience that you have brought to the discussion of this Motion. It is important to note that, as we move forward and put together the Irrigation Policy and other policies and frameworks to help improve agricultural production in our country, I think you are one person who will be very helpful in bringing in your wealth of experience. From your discussion, you gave some statistics on the 25 per cent GDP on agriculture. When you think about it, given that agriculture is the backbone of the economy of our country, if we are only doing it at 25 per cent, then that clearly shows that there is a lot of room for improvement. We can improve a lot of things and become better at providing for our population while at the same time creating jobs, which is very important. As we traversed this country during our campaigns, I am sure you all realised that one of our greatest needs in the country is to provide more employment opportunities especially for the youth who make up a very big part of the population. So, if we do better in irrigation to improve agricultural production while at the same time creating such opportunities like jobs and reducing the rural-urban migration, which we have seen a lot of lately, and improving the health of our people, then I believe it will go a long way in creating a win-win situation for everybody in the country. I also agree with you as far as the value addition to our agricultural produce is concerned. As we ponder over this Irrigation Policy and as we improve our agricultural production in the country, the only way we can become a developed country is when we move more towards industrialisation. So, value addition will be critical so that we also do not have our farmers doing so much in farming by putting so much energy in production with little returns. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes"
}