Kajiado North:Farmers in Kajiado North are being encouraged to adopt drought-tolerant crops, water harvesting, and efficient irrigation techniques to enhance food production in the face of unreliable rainfall and decreasing farmland availability.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Sub-County Agricultural Officer, Night Opunga, highlighted that the region still heavily depends on food supplies from other sub-counties due to inadequate local production. Speaking on World Food Day, she attributed the low yields this season to the early cessation of rains, which affected crops at critical growth stages.
Opunga noted that while early-planted beans were harvested successfully, maize production was poor as the rains ended prematurely. She identified the conversion of agricultural land to residential and commercial developments in areas like Rongai, Ngong, and Oloolua as a significant challenge for local farming.
In Oloolua, approximately seven-eighths of the land has been used for homes and businesses, reducing the space available for cultivation. Opunga mentioned that even on smaller plots, farmers could be successful by planting high-yielding crops and employing careful farming practices.
The cost of farm inputs, especially improved seeds, poses another barrier to higher production. A packet of improved maize seed can cost close to Sh1,000, leading some farmers to replant seeds from previous harvests without proper selection, which can decrease yields over time.
To tackle these challenges, the agricultural office has trained farmers on cultivating drought-tolerant crops like maize, beans, sweet potatoes, and cassava, alongside water harvesting and drip irrigation techniques. They also collaborate with partners such as the Community Sustainable Agriculture and Healthy Environment Programme (CSHEP) to promote organic farming and indigenous seed multiplication.
The National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project is still in its training phase in the sub-county. Registered farmers receive electronic vouchers to purchase subsidized fertilizer from the National Cereals and Produce Board. However, Opunga pointed out that the county government has not provided support for food crops this season, with the last seed donation consisting of a small quantity of sunflower seeds.
Opunga recommended timely planting of drought-tolerant maize and diversification into crops like vegetables and fruits, such as mangoes, avocados, and pawpaws, particularly for farmers capable of water harvesting and storage. She emphasized the market opportunities for tomatoes, kales, spinach, and indigenous vegetables like managu, sagaa, and terere.
While greenhouse farming could facilitate year-round production, its high setup costs remain unaffordable for many farmers. Farmer Alex Kango expressed that unreliable rainfall had greatly reduced his harvest this season and noted a decrease in available support. He urged the government to enhance farmer training in modern agricultural practices and provide more affordable inputs.
Kango also advised farmers to improve food storage to avoid selling their entire harvest and then repurchasing food at higher prices when supplies dwindle. He stressed the importance of retaining sufficient food for household consumption and conserving hay for livestock during dry periods.
Reflecting on this year’s World Food Day theme, ‘Innovate today to nourish tomorrow,’ Opunga urged farmers to move beyond traditional methods and adopt practices suited to changing climatic conditions. She emphasized the importance of water harvesting for the future of agriculture in Kajiado North.
World Food Day, observed annually on October 16, raises awareness of hunger and promotes actions towards food security and improved nutrition, marking the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. In Kenya, the day highlights challenges like erratic rainfall, rising input costs, and diminishing farmland, while promoting sustainable farming to strengthen food security.
