Farmers Should Adopt Mechanized Agriculture to Avoid Losses Resulting from Climate Change

Kenya is among nations that risk facing serious food shortages if issues of climate change are not mitigated.

According to Dr. John Recha, a research scientist at Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security Program, the unpredictable weather patterns have left farmers who depend on rain with great losses, something he says affects the value chain leading to unemployment and further poverty.

Speaking at a workshop organized by the Netherlands Development Organisation, SNV, held in Nakuru, Dr. Recha offered some words of advice to farmers.

READ: Poor Regulation and High Production Costs Choking Investment in Manufacturing Industry

“It is high time farmers planted the right seeds and grow venture into crops that mature within a short window. Farmers also need to invest in crops which can withstanding emerging diseases pests like the foul armyworm,” he said.

The organization has injected a total of 4 billion shillings in a regional initiative to offer training to farmers on ways of dealing with climate change.

The project, dubbed, Climate-Smart Agriculture East Africa is being implemented in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Joseph Muhwanga, the project manager for the Kenyan chapter says that the program will work on climate-smart production of pulses, oilseeds, Irish potatoes, and cereals.

SEE ALSO: How to Make a Million in 3 Months from Onions

“Each country will focus on one crop they would like to pursue from those value chains and each county will choose the specific crop they want to pursue along those value chains,” he said.

SNV is collaborating with Wageningen University and Research in the climate-smart agriculture project.

“We shall work with the national and county government to see how we can create an enabling legal, institutional and regulatory framework,” added Muhwanga.

Joel Kibet, the Chief Officer for Agriculture, Nakuru County Government, said that the county government was encouraging farmers to grow potatoes because they can easily adapt to unpredictable rainfall.

“Being a short season crop, requiring short rains to mature, we think it is a good crop, which can be used to mitigate the effects of climate change in the county,” he said during the workshop.

RELATED: Makueni Sunflower Farmers Reap from Partnership with DigiFarm

Among the recommendations raised on dealing with losses resulting from climate change, issues include mechanization.

Very few farmers have utilized smart agricultural innovations and technologies to adapt to or mitigate against effects of climate change, experts say.

For this reason, sensitizing small farmers for implementation at the farm level and the entire value chain is critical. After all, Kenya’s farming sector is predominantly small scale and accounts for about 75 percent of the total agricultural output, which makes it highly crucial.