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{
    "id": 784093,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/784093/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 287,
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    "content": "To do all that, the Bill proposes that there should be establishment of a food security authority which will be the implementing agency. The functions of the authority will be to formulate strategies, plans and programmes to facilitate the realisation of the right to food; appraise and review the levels of access to food by all Kenyans in terms of quantity and quality and liaise with county food security committees and relevant agencies to ensure there is optimum access to food. The authority will also collaborate with necessary entities and stakeholders in establishment of appropriate mechanisms that ensure access by poor persons to adequate food in both quantity and quality; promote measures to improve security and access to land and water resources and the optimum and sustainable utilisation of these resources, among other functions. Food security will not be achieved if we still depend on rain for our agriculture. We must move away from rain-based agriculture to irrigation. The type of irrigation we do should not just be depended on rivers. The future is to ensure that we take advantage of water underneath. Boreholes should be dug and good irrigation done. If you pass Naivasha driving, you will not see what I am saying but if you fly you will see irrigation taking place in Delamere Farms. There is a borehole sank in the middle of about 100 acres of land and they do overhead irrigation. If we want to have food security, these are the things that we must think about. If we have to solve problems of food security, we must invest in such technology. Farming should take place throughout the year because water underneath can be pumped. You do not have to use electricity because they use solar energy and you can even use hydropower. Therefore, you can use modern technology using solar energy and farm nonstop. When it rains, you can stop using the borehole and use the rain water. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, you know the cost of sinking a borehole because you come from a pastoral area. You need about Kshs2 billion to Kshs3 billion. The Government needs to set aside necessary and enough resources to sink at least one borehole in every ward in this republic. We have 1450 wards. Of course not all places will require sinking boreholes because some places like my ward are high areas and there are many rivers. So, you do not need to sink a borehole there. We may need about 1,000 boreholes in this country and that will help to solve food insecurity. We have been told that the amount of water in Turkana is unbelievable. We need to sink enough boreholes and do irrigation. There should be collaboration between the national and county governments and the problem will be solved. That is one of the things that must be done to ensure that there is water and sustainable utilisation of resources to deal with matters of food. We cannot talk about proper development if we still have people without food in this country. Other functions of the authority will be to monitor the implementation of the food distribution programme; identify food insecure counties and develop affirmative action measures; monitor and evaluate the implementation of policies, plans and strategies on food security; and in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary responsible for disaster management, carry out emergency response and mitigation programmes including, where appropriate, food distribution and feeding programmes. 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."
}