Nari urges farmers to prepare for drought

Agronomist Rodney Aku of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) Mumasi Regional Centre is urging farmers to establish reliable water sources and irrigation systems to protect their crops during dry conditions.

Aku said access to water was particularly important during the first two weeks after planting, when crops were establishing their roots and needed sufficient moisture to grow.

He said NARI had received requests from non-government organisations and other agricultural partners for advice on planting drought-tolerant crops to help farmers prepare for dry conditions.

Aku warned that farmers without proper irrigation systems could struggle to maintain crop production as the soil dries out.

He said crops such as cucumbers, pumpkins and corn could be planted again if farmers had reliable irrigation systems to supply enough water.

Aku encouraged farmers to plan ahead by securing water sources and improving their irrigation systems to sustain food production during periods of drought.