Farmers in Machakos have been urged to prepare for the October, November and December short rains which are predicted to be
below normal with poor distribution.
County director of meteorological services Dominic Kyalo said the onset of the short rains in Machakos will be between November 17 to 24 and the amount of rainfall will be between 250mm -300mm and cessation is likely to be between December 15 -22.
He said the length of the rainfall will last between 29-36 days cautioning farmers to be well prepared for a possible drought season.
Kyalo spoke during a meeting to develop a Participatory Scenario Planning, with partners in Machakos town.
He advised farmers to plant drought resistant crops such as cassava, cowpeas and sweet potatoes and harvest water.
Kyalo called for coordinated efforts to build resilience and create drought management plans to ensure a comprehensive response to the oncoming drought season.
“There is going to be a dry spell if you have a chance to harvest water that can be used for farming and feeding animals this is the time. The extension officers will guide the farmers accordingly on what to do and the disaster preparedness should be from the family to county level to manage water and minimise impacts,” he said.
County drought coordinator for National Drought Management Authority Alice Munyao said they are foreseeing drought and will likely move to an alert phase where they will have to activate their county drought contingency plan.
She said the one month of rainfall is going to cast a negative impact on the agricultural, water and livestock sector since crops will not grow to maturity.
Munyao urged farmers to implement rain water harvesting techniques such as roof top collection and surface runoff harvesting from the ground.
She said the county will carry out a food security assessment to determine and ascertain the number of vulnerable families that need help and map out areas that will most likely be food insecure such as Kinanie, Yatta, Athi River, Mwala and kola.
“When the time comes we shall convene a county steering group that will come up with a sectoral response plan to respond to the sectoral needs and to coordinate the implementation of the resource plan,” Munyao said.
She urged livestock farmers to adopt fodder and pasture production while establishing nurseries for brachiaria and napier grass and start timely destocking of livestock to have a manageable herd as the OND season is approaching.
Seventy-year-old farmer Jeremiah Katulu from Katangi in Yatta said he relies on the advice of the metrological department for his farming activities.
He said the forecast advisory helped him harvest several bags of maize and beans that has been sustaining his family.
Katulu urged farmers to also follow the weather forecast advisory for proper information.
