Kenya and most parts of Africa have experienced drought in the past two years, largely attributed to climate change. Most rivers and boreholes that supply water for irrigation have dried up.
Water reservoirs have dried up, and dam levels are declining. The long rains were very unreliable early this year, and most crops didn’t do well. This might be the same case for short rains.
Can a farmer still get a high yield and probably good profits in times of water scarcity? The answer is yes. If the farmer is creative and uses the available resources for sustainable soil moisture conservation,
One can harvest high yields during this drought season in four main ways.
Use of drip Irrigation
Unreliable rainfall has pushed more and more farmers out of farming. The effect is a reduced supply of most vegetables and cereals, pushing prices up gradually. Though most rivers and boreholes have dried up, sufficient use of the little water for drip irrigation can help boost yield rather than waiting for rain.
Use of farm yard manure
High atmospheric temperatures have increased the rate of soil evaporation, leading to plant drying off. Farmyard Manure can conserve moisture for the crop, nourishing it in hot temperatures. This works for all crops.
Though manure is a slow releaser of nutrients, research from our trial has shown that crops planted with manure grow more vigorously and yield more than those without. So, when planting, ensure you use as much manure as possible.
Mulching
Mulching with dry grass or plastic paper generally reduces soil evaporation rate. This means little water is used for irrigation, and the scarce water can irrigate the crops for a longer period.
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Planting drought-resistant cops
This mostly applies to cereals. Farmers in highlands and lowlands should plant drought-resistant seeds this time round, though they are not high-yielders. Most of these varieties have a short maturity period of three months, which is good with unreliable rainfall. This way, chances of total crop loss are minimal.
Combining two or three ways can help a farmer minimise crop loss caused by low rainfall.
