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{
    "id": 814888,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/814888/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 33,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "on how we should deal with issues of land tenure system. Some of these irrigation schemes do not have title deeds. In the Committee report of the National Assembly, members of the public were proposing if those schemes could have title deeds that can enable them to get credit facilities from institutions so that they can increase their yields. This is an important point that we need to consider in the amendments to this Bill. Once this Bill becomes an Act, we can review the policies that we already have in place and strengthen it so that it can effectively serve our country. It is important for us to have this Bill. It is timely in us having a proper legal mechanism in place to manage our irrigation. If we do not have that, then we will still cry. There will still be issue of relief, drought and the land tenure system that has affected our country for a very long time. One thing that was proposed in the public hearing report that I have looked at is the issue of the usage of clean water for domestic use. In an irrigation scheme, chemicals are used in spraying the crops. Unfortunately, that has to be provided in an irrigation scheme where members of those schemes can access clean water for domestic use. The Bill also provides for dispute resolution mechanisms in case of conflict between the user associations in irrigation schemes at different levels. This will assist communities to resolve their issues instead of going to court and ensure that they are operational. We also need to provide for a provision that will protect the farmers. They should get proper crops to plant in the irrigation schemes. Having come from a county that has several irrigation schemes as I said earlier, those schemes do not benefit the local communities. The Government is pumping in a lot of money, but unfortunately the schemes, for example, the Malka Daka Irrigation Scheme has been in operation since 1978. Up to date, money is pumped in but the scheme is not helping the community. Once this Bill is passed, we will help our communities to make sure that it has assisted them in their livelihood. Mr. Speaker, Sir, finally we must have monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in place in the Bill to help our farmers on how the schemes will be evaluated. This is a step forward in ensuring that we monitor progress of our schemes. Once this Bill goes through, it will help our communities. It will also assist our country in improvement of the GDP. I request Members to support this Bill so that we can have it implemented, establish regulations that can govern this and amend the relevant policy that governs this Bill. Without much ado, I request Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. to second this Bill. I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir."
}