Researchers are working on strategies of countering climate change by reviving knowledge and use of indigenous foods.
They say many food crops were grown and harvested even during dry seasons, but these days people are challenged by hunger since they do not know which food crops to grow in the absence of reliable rainfall.
Many families in different regions have ended up depending on one type of food crop.
Simon Mburu from Gitithia village in Lari constituency in Kiambu grows different vegetables, which he says do not always do well these days like in the 1990s.
“I would produce eight bags of kales in a span of two weeks from my quarter acre. These days getting even half a bag is a challenge. The sun these days is too hot in this region” Mburu said.
The farmer said other crops such as maize dry up when they are about one to two feet tall.
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation scientist Dr Njoki Mitugo on Wednesday said there were lots of cases where families go to bed hungry.
Areas with potential to produce drought resistant foods are relying on relief food instead.
Mitugo said some parts of Kiambu county have been affected by climate change, and resident farmers needed to be guided on what types of food crops they can grow since the region is still fertile.
“We are working on establishing if some food crops, which were never grown in some areas, can do well in areas where they were never planted owing to the climate change,” she said.
“Some food crops which used to do so well in the regions for more than 30 years no longer do well nowadays. We have done our part and realised that they can do better in some area where they were never grown,” she noted.
Mitugo said before colonialists came to Africa, residents experienced impacts of climate change but depended on growing ingenious food crops which were drought resistant.
“We are not here to say agribusiness is bad, in fact it is good. However, due to climate change that affected our country, our continent Africa and the world, it is important to use research findings to know what else can we grow and harvest more,” she said.
“If we went back to where we came from, our forefathers knew which food crops to grow in which seasons and they used to harvest a lot. In fact, many homes used to have granaries which used to be full of food throughout the year,” she said.
