Farmers are currently facing the dilemma of whether or not to plant as heavy rains fall earlier than expected.
But while some are celebrating the downpour, others are still contemplating their next moves.
Daniel Gakuo, an onion farmer in Kieni Constituency, Nyeri County, expressed concern with a biting shortage of seed in local markets caught napping by the earlier-than-usual onset of the rains.
According to Gakuo, while the rains were a blessing, most onion farmers were worried about accessing quality seed.
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“It is planting season for most onion farmers, but seeds of the russet onion variety that has become very popular are in short supply and too expensive. Prices range between Sh12,500 and Sh15,000 for a 500-gramme packet,” he said.
The shortage of the hybrid variety is riding on growing demand for onions, which are currently retailing at Sh150 per kilo in markets in markets across Nyeri County.
The high demand is driven by blocked imports from Tanzania due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The situation in the onion sector is also being experienced in the potato sector, where a shortage of seedlings has left farmers at the mercy of government subsidies, which are not enough for everyone.
Charles Mwangi, a potato farmer in Kabaru Ward, said despite the county government distributing more than 80 tonnes of certified potato seeds, most farmers were yet to receive their share.
“The seeds are being distributed through groups. Many small-scale farmers are not members of the groups, so they end up without seeds to embark on planting,” he said.
However, while the rains pose a dilemma for these farmers, farmers in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme are celebrating the heavy downpour as it gives them much-needed water to prepare their rice paddies.
The rains were timely for rice farmers who were getting ready for the planting season. It comes with increased water supply, which ensures the paddies are well irrigated.
“The rains are a blessing to us because now there is enough water to plant without fear of rationing, especially for farmers downstream,” said Daniel Nyaga.
Had the rains come late with the rice seedlings already on the ground, they would have been destroyed.
For fruit and tree farmers, the rains have left them uncertain on whether to plant or abandon their farms.
George Wang'ombe, an agronomist and proprietor of Jikaze Tree Nurseries, says many farmers are focusing on vegetables and have delayed planting macadamia, avocado and tree tomato seedlings.
“I have run out of the horticultural seedlings, such as sukuma wiki, onions, green pepper, spinach, but fruit trees are slow moving,” said Wang'ombe.
David Ndegwa a farm management consultant who has been working in the commercial farming business for 20 years now, argued that the rains had disrupted farmers who practice programmed farming.
“If you have a large commercial farm which requires planting every week, these rains will spell disaster for you because you will have to skip planting for several weeks, which will affect production,” he explained.
Coffee farmers, too, are not celebrating the heavy rains.
Sam Kimani, a coffee farmer in Kirinyaga County, expressed fear that the rains would adversely affect the crop by disrupting pruning and spraying.
“When this is disrupted, production is affected. Slight changes in the farming process can lead to low yields,” he said.
But not everyone agrees with Kimani, and a thread of optimism still runs through coffee and horticulture farms in central Kenya.
Mary Wangai, an agronomist based in Nyeri County, said planting of perennial crops such as coffee and tea would not be affected by the rains.
“So far, the rains in Central Kenya have not adversely affected horticultural farming, but perhaps moving on, if the rains continue, it will determine whether or not production will be affected,” she said.
