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{
    "id": 93282,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/93282/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 183,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Lesrima",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 178,
        "legal_name": "Simon Saimanga Lesirma",
        "slug": "simon-lesirma"
    },
    "content": "Secondly, I would like to commend the Ministry for its effort in irrigation programmes. The Minister alluded, in her speech, that out of the irrigation programmes in the previous year, we managed to harvest 185 bags of maize and I am sure we could do a lot more especially if we focused on smaller-holder irrigation. A country like Malawi became self-sufficient in food production within a short time and was able to export food. That is after encouraging small-scale farmers. I urge that we should have a greenhouse around every water facility. The third point I want to make is with regard to capacity building. It is true that there are a number of boreholes that have been put up through the support of the Ministry but we find that there is need to build capacity in terms of managing those boreholes and dams using the local population instead of just putting up a borehole and leaving the community on their own. I think there is a need to build capacity in terms of management and sustainability. Finally, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the question of water quality particularly around the dams is very critical. We need to protect the upstream sources of water and I have in my mind Maralal Water Dam which is in my constituency. There is heavy cultivation upstream and we are beginning to see some pollution of the dam through chemical applied through agricultural activities. Also in the design of the dams, I think it is important that we design these dams and allow a provision for outlets for cattle to drink and community to fetch water in separate places rather than the current situation where everybody converges in a dam to fetch water. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}