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{
    "id": 99414,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/99414/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 239,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Lekuton",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 66,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton",
        "slug": "joseph-lekuton"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to continue from where I left this morning on this Animal Technicians Bill. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would like to re-emphasize the role of the livestock sub-sector in Kenya. To get the figures right and for us to be able to re-evaluate and know that we really need this Bill, we need to understand that the livestock sub- sector contributes to about 12 per cent of Kenya’s GDP. It contributes to 42 per cent of agricultural GDP, employs about 50 per cent of agricultural labour force and approximately 60 per cent of Kenya’s livestock herd is found in Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASAL) which constitutes about 80 of this country’s land mass. It is also true that an estimated ten million people living in ASALs derive their livelihood largely from livestock. Within the ASALs, livestock production contributes 90 per cent of the employment opportunities and accounts for 95 per cent of the family’s income. In a higher rainfall area like Central Province, dairy production is a major source of livelihood to over 600,000 households. The reason why I drafted this Bill is to tackle some of the challenges faced by the Ministry of Livestock and the Livestock sub-sector. The livestock industry has undergone tremendous challenges since 1988 when the Government stopped employing field extension workers. We know the importance of the field extension workers. They are the very backbone people who strive night and day to make sure that they report any diseases that crop up in those areas. I can also know that there is an inadequate budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Livestock. That is also a big contributor as to why the livestock is not doing very well."
}