Farmers urged to Adopt Alternative farming methods

The current trend of weather patterns where most Counties are experiencing an increase in temperature and a decline in rainfall is threatening agricultural practices.
This has caused reduction in food supply in the country affecting production and nutrition thus it’s a high time to adopt alternative farming methods that are climate compatible and have less reliance on rain fed agriculture.
Speaking Thursday in a meeting in Nairobi on a study done by the Kenya Market Trust (KMT) on climate change resilience in the context of the Kenya’s Big Four Agenda, State department of Agriculture Principal Secretary, Prof. Hamadi Boga said transformation of agriculture sector can only be effective with presence of various initiatives.
“Investment in research and data and monitoring of food system risks that aims to promote sustainability, climate resilience and crises management can be possible initiatives to transform the agriculture sector”, he said
Between 2014 to 2018, Kenya Markets Trust, in collaboration with Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and DFID, conducted an in-depth research on the economic viability of Kenya’s ASALs in Laikipia, Kajiado, Narok and Makueni counties to examine climate change impacts and the effect of climate on the realization of the country’s Big Four Agenda.
Mr. Kamau Kuria, KMT CEO said the findings according to the report will go a long way in identifying approaches to unlock the potential of arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya and also redefine their contribution to the national agenda.
By Wangari Ndirangu