Murang'a residents urged to adopt smart farming

Murang’a residents have been cautioned to brace for reduced rains that will occasion minimised harvests.

The county director of the Kenya Meteorological Department Paul Murage has raised concerns that the short rains will start late and end early.

The rains normally start in October and conclude in December and will not be enough, according to Murage.

The rains will be poorly distributed in both time and space and are expected to start between October 22 and November 1 and end before December 21.

He said that the county has experienced failed seasons since last year that have left farmers struggling to stay afloat.

“The rains have not been enough since the long rains last year. Even the people who made harvests the last season did not harvest enough,” the county director said. 

All parts of the county will be affected, he said, with worst hit being the semi-arid areas of Makuyu, Kamiti and Gaturi that are expected to receive between 300 and 350 millilitres of rain.

Tea zones that border the Aberdare ranges such as Tutho, Mioro and Ndaka-ini will have between 400 and 400 millilitres of rain.

This happens as the country continues to grapple with the high cost of living as more families struggle to raise food.

Murage said it is now time for residents to partner with both county and national governments to put in place mitigating measures.

This is because shortage of water could spark waterborne diseases while food shortage could heighten human-wildlife conflict.

Residents have for years been complaining over the invasion of their farms by monkeys and baboons that destroy their food crops.

In some parts of Iyego, Kangema constituency, villagers have been taking turns to chase away the monkeys from their farms.

And in Kabuta, Kiharu constituency, residents are forced to keep their livestock in their houses as baboons attack their homes and viciously kill them.

Murage also said there is a need for government officials to help residents to acquire drought-resistant crops that will shield them from food insecurity.

He encouraged farmers to adopt climate smart technologies, innovations and management practices while going for drought-tolerant and fast maturing crops.

The county director also called for adoption of conservation agriculture that involves minimal or zero tillage, mulching and inclusion of cover crops and on-farm rainwater harvesting.

“Even with reduced rains, we can still have some harvests but this will call for sector leaders to assist in identifying climate smart farming practices with the choice of type of crops and the varieties opted for informed by the projected rainfall,” Murage said.

(edited by Amol Awuor)