The Meteorology department in Narok County has advised residents in various parts of the county to prepare for a continued dry spell as many parts of the county are expected to get very little or no rains at all until December.
Speaking to KNA, the County Director of Meteorology Peter Runanu said the areas around Mau forest and the highlands such as Trans Mara areas are expected to get less than normal rainfall starting this month, while the rest of the county will receive very little or no rainfall at all.
Runanu said those areas expecting some rains such as the highlands can utilize these rains by planting early maturing crops such as beans and some fodder for the livestock.
This comes even as parts of the county, especially those in Narok East sub-county and around Maasai Mara Game Reserve have started to feel the effect of the drought. These areas have not received enough rainfall since June this year.
The short rain season in the county is expected this September, but according to weather experts, these rains will not be enough to bring any relief.
At the same time, the county did not receive adequate rainfall during the long rains in March this year and the revelation that the short rains will equally be depressed comes as shocker to the residents.
Runanu called for proper planning on the part of the county government and the farmers in the county in the face of the changing weather patterns.
“The planning will help in averting weather-relate disasters and ensure farmers make proper use of the available rains and ensure we have enough food as our agriculture is mostly rain-fed,” he said.
The Director said this information is available in their Agriculture and Livestock offices located in each county.
“Proper planning will help in making maximum use of the rains when available or putting mitigation measures in the parts of the counties or regions that will receive below average rain that will be also poorly distributed both in time and space and which cannot sustain livestock or crops,” he said.
Runanu said the weather has become erratic and such information was important for the farmers in planning when and what crops to plant, when to plant and to store fodder for the livestock to avoid losses such as those that are experienced when rains fail after farmers have planted.
However, Runanu said that previous forecasts have sometimes misled farmers but said theirs was a scientific research that gives more than 70 per cent of accuracy, hence can be relied on for decision making.
By Mabel Keya
