Unevenly Spread of Rainfall Expected in Kilifi County, Weatherman Warns
By Ronald Ngoba
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) has announced some areas of Kilifi County will experience below average rainfall during the coming long season expected next month (March).
Speaking during the Participatory Scenario Planning (PSP) workshop organized by Kilifi County Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Blue Economy and Pastoralist Girls Initiative, County KMD director Getrude Leshamta says rainfall distribution is expected to be unevenly spread across the county.
According to her this depressed rainfall forecast will significantly affect farmers who heavily rely on maize farming.
She advised farmers to monitor weekly weather updates including the indigenous weather forecasting knowledge from the Kaya elders to be informed on what to do.
“The hinterlands and some parts of the coastline are expected to receive between 101 and 250mm of rainfall while on the southern parts are expected to record rainfall between 126 to 250mm. This range of rainfall is not good for PH4 maize variety.”
The director urged farmers to plant drought-resistant crops such as cow peas, cassava, sorghum and millet so as to mitigate the low distribution of rains.
“These crops can manage under rainfall below 250mm. Farmers can also practice planting fruit trees such as mangoes, coconuts cashe nuts, this will enhance soil fertility and also encourage farmers to shun maize farming.”
Malindi Subcounty agricultural officer Dr Chai Ngala told farmers to embrace drought-tolerant and early maturity crops in order to ensure food and nutrition security in the county.
He said the use of drought-tolerant and early maturity crop is a game changer towards mitigating the effect posed by climate change.
“To mitigate the challenges of climate change we encourage our farmers to use drought-tolerant crops and construction of water pans so as to ensure the availability of food within household all year round.”
The officer challenged farmers to diversify into other crops that will combat the realities of climate change.
Mwalimu Menza, a research scientist at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) encouraged farmers to plant new and certified seeds so as to improve their income and secure food security.
According to him studies have shown that use of certified seeds would significantly impact on crops yields.
“It is hence more sensible to use certified seeds, but then this ultimately depends on the famers’ altitudes and beliefs towards seeds and their financial capabilities.”
