Effects of Unpredictable Weather Patterns on Agriculture in Nyandarua County, Kenya
My name is Gathoni from Kenya. I practice small-scale farming in Nyandarua County, Kenya. One effect of climate change I have experienced firsthand is crop failure due to extreme weather conditions. The weather has become warmer, causing crops to grow faster than they did 10 years ago. This presents both an advantage and a challenge for farmers. Most farmers in our area still rely on traditional seeds and farming practices. They are unable to control pests and diseases that attack their crops.
In addition, most farmers in Nyandarua are subsistence farmers who rely heavily on rainfall for crop production. As a result, they often experience crop failure due to unpredictable and unreliable rainfall patterns. Furthermore, prolonged rainfall has severely affected road infrastructure in the area. Many roads become impassable, making it difficult for farmers to transport their produce to the market.
To address these challenges, farmers in the area have developed several coping mechanisms. With the support of the local government, farmers have established cooperatives and milk cooling plants where they can store milk. In addition, the government has tarmacked roads in the area to facilitate the efficient movement of farm produce from farms to markets.
Other initiatives include planting trees in homes and public institutions to improve forest cover. Additionally, learners in public schools are educated on the importance of environmental conservation