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{
    "id": 788156,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/788156/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 192,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kaunya",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13488,
        "legal_name": "Edward Oku Kaunya",
        "slug": "edward-oku-kaunya"
    },
    "content": "maximum use of the water from the floods, rivers and lakes will help us to address food shortage and empower our farmers. Irrigation will not only address food shortages, but it will also address issues of empowering farmers in terms of income generation. That means crops that can be grown for cash crop production and for our industrial use can be grown through irrigation. The key aspect that I would want to see in the implementation of the Bill is addressing the 75 per cent of our farms. Small holder farmers’ practice covers 75 per cent. When we sometimes start these irrigation schemes, we look at it from a much bigger perspective. When they fail, they really affect the large-scale farming area yet the percentage of our production, the larger percentage of our food production and even cash crop production which constitutes 75 per cent comes from the smallholder farmers. The emphasis on implementation should be to ensure that smallholder farmers are engaged and participate in these irrigation schemes. I support what the Members have raised on the issue of inclusivity or equity. Equity in terms of the distribution of these schemes is quite important, so that all areas in Kenya which can be considered for irrigation, take part. Nearly the whole country requires irrigation. There are areas which are very dry and require full scale irrigation, but most of the other areas, even one season is not enough to ensure the food security that we need. That inclusivity and equity in the distribution of this particular programme of irrigation across the country will also enhance our integration and cohesion as a country. With that, I support the Bill."
}