This archive report was first published on 14 September 2019.
Kenyan farmers are facing unprecedented challenges due to unpredictable weather conditions, which have affected farming in the country.
According to experts, many farmers who rely on rains no longer know when and what to plant, leading to significant losses.
Published on September 14, 2019, by Ann Macharia, the article highlights the impact of erratic rains on farming in Kenya.
For some maize farmers, the heavy rainfall has come as a blessing, but for those harvesting beans and onions, it has become a nightmare.
Jane, a bean farmer in Nakuru, is counting huge losses due to the delayed harvesting of her crop, which has made post-harvest practices such as threshing and drying difficult.
Onion farmers are also struggling with the medium-sized bulb being the most preferred by consumers, but the heavy rains result in more vegetative growth, leading to large bulb onions.
Experts recommend that farmers harvest as much water as possible in water pans or tanks for irrigation, and consider constructing terraces and drainage channels to control soil erosion.
Additionally, farmers should prune affected leaves and bushy plants to reduce the spread of diseases, and use a nitrogen stabiliser to ensure the plants utilise nutrients fully.
