Potential agricultural impact of the forecasted low rainfall in Kenya (Agriculture, Food Security and Livestock Sector)

In the agricultural counties of Western Kenya and Nyanza where near normal rainfall performance is expected, and also the central Rift Valley and central Highlands where near normal to below-normal rainfall is expected, the farming communities should take advantage of the expected rains and maximize crop yield through appropriate land-use management. Farmers are advised to liaise with the State Department of Agriculture for advice on the appropriate seeds to be used. The expected poor temporal distribution of the seasonal rainfall is, however, likely to negatively impact most agricultural areas.

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In other agricultural counties like the Southeastern Kenya where the rainfall is expected to be highly depressed, farmers are also advised to liaise with the State Department of Agriculture to get advice on appropriate crops that are drought resistant in order to make the best use of the anticipated poorly distributed and depressed rainfall by planting.

Food security is expected to deteriorate over most parts of the country and more so the northern areas of Kenya.The poor rainfall performance expected over the Arid and Semi-arid Lands (ASALs) will continue to impact negatively on the livestock sector.

This is an exerpt from the Meteorological departments press release and is credited to them.