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{
"id": 97695,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/97695/?format=api",
"text_counter": 87,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dr. Kuti",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Livestock Development",
"speaker": {
"id": 60,
"legal_name": "Mohammed Abdi Kuti",
"slug": "mohammed-kuti"
},
"content": "(a) It is true that the country is experiencing climatic changes, manifesting itself in frequent drought, floods and general degradation of the environment. In view of the above, the Ministry has been implementing a number of interventions to help livestock farmers adopt to the changing weather patterns. Amongst these interventions are:- (i) training of livestock keepers on livestock feed conservation both as cut hey and standing hey; (ii) implementing livestock early warning systems for drought, together with livestock keepers, to supplement their traditional indicators in order to respond early enough to impending adverse weather conditions; and, (iii) training livestock keepers to diversify from their traditional livestock types of choice to more hardy ones that can cope with adverse conditions. This is witnessed in the introduction of camels to communities that usually keep cattle. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have also just passed through the Cabinet, and policies are coming to this House on poultry, which will enhance, encourage and promote keeping of poultry, especially the free range type that are common amongst rural communities. This policy is also on methods of improving those chickens, so that they can also be of help to farmers who usually keep cattle and other susceptible livestock. We are also going to table a bee-keeping policy, which has passed through the Cabinet and is being fine-tuned at the Attorney-Generalâs Chamber, where this diversification will help livestock farmers to cope with the changing climatic conditions, where their traditional livestock are not able to cope. The Ministry is also promoting fodder production and conservation in ASAL areas as a coping strategy. We are also promoting grass seed multiplication for re-seeding the denuded rangelands. We are also undertaking construction and rehabilitation of water pans and dams. There are also traditional methods, where communities stay close to permanent water sources and also reserve certain grazing areas for very hard times, during which they move in when the conditions become very difficult. We support this traditional method of movement by also making sure that there are boreholes and water pans in such areas. It is important to note that my Ministry is participating, together with other sector Ministries, in developing a climate change policy and food security action plan, which spells out actions to be taken to protect livelihoods. Among those measures is the inclusion of milk and meat in the national strategic reserve. We would like to change from the Strategic Grain Reserve to Strategic Food Reserve, which will include mild power, which can remain good for two years; and meat, especially conned beef, which can stay good for over five years. So, instead of just piling up cereals, we are planning to see to it that meat and milk are also stored to be used in times of drought. (b) This country has experienced two major droughts in close succession: One in the year 2005-2006, and the recent one in 2008-2009. This has disrupted the livelihoods of the pastoral communities in arid areas. In the just ended drought, the country lost over 612,000 cattle, over 800,000 sheep, about 700,000 goats and about 14,000 camels. This is estimated to cost over Kshs23 billion. The number of households that have been involved in this loss are estimated to be about 34,000. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in an effort to address the affected livelihoods, the Ministry has instituted a number of measures. The Ministry, in its account right now, has Kshs130 million, and we have asked for more, for purposes of restocking the communities that lost their livestock. Hon. Members will realise that it is not possible to restock all the lost animals, but we will try our best to ensure that we liaise with Treasury, where discussions are already ongoing, so that the Kshs130 million can be remarkably enhanced, so that we can take pastoralists back to their usual work of looking after livestock, which they lost to the drought."
}