Kisumu County government is set to build seven modern automatic weather stations that are poised to help farmers in planning when to plant and harvest hence improving their yields.
The project which is expected to cost Sh35m was commissioned three days ago at Ayueyo village where one such station costing Sh5m was started.
“With the weather stations in place, it will be easier for farmers to predict when to cultivate cash crops such as potatoes, rice, maize in real time,” said Paul Oloo, the county’s director of meteorological services.
“Information from weather stations will be used for research to optimise crop irrigation patterns, pest control models and ultimately improve the quality of crops.”
RELATED ARTICLE: Cold weather reduces milk production, lowering processors’ intake
RELATED ARTICLE: Western Kenya to receive rains for the next four days, says Weatherman
RELATED ARTICLE: Mobile app assists farmers monitor soil and weather conditions
Monitoring soil moisture and temperature and maintaining these parameters at the correct levels is crucial for cash crops that have short harvest cycles.
Data on temperature and wind speed, he added, would also help determine the right time to spray pesticides.
“The weather station will help individual farmers to determine whether a particular region is ideal to grow a specific crop depending on soil texture,” said Mathews Owili, Kisumu County deputy governor.
Farmers will also be warned in advance about adverse weather conditions such as hail storms and excessive or deficient rains.
The new weather station has a data logger component that will relay information to farmers, fishermen and line county officials simultaneously.
It will provide temperature, wind speed and direction, humidity, soil conditions, rainfall quantities and other variables every five minutes to a 15km radius.
Related posts:
- Simple device for trimming fences and weeds Favour machinery and Auto Spares has introduced a new brush cutter that can trim one...
- Farmers pump water free with bicycle Farmer cycling a bicycle to shell maize. Photo courtesy. Another innovator has come up with...
- Kinangop potato farmers to find solution to market challenges for their produce, thanks to a new plant The newly constructed Engineer Food Processing plant in Kinangop, Nyandarua County. The factory will be processing one...
- Oserian Development Company launches solar plant to power operations The 3,000 solar panels that make up Oserian solar plant. Photo courtesy. Oserian Development Company,...
- Global agribusiness firm reduces production downtime with smart sensors ABB Ability Smart Sensor Leading agribusiness, Olam International, is digitalizing its operations with the ABB...
- Simple home-made solar chimney dryer increases vegetable shelf-life for over a year Vegetable farmers can now increase their produce shelf-life from three days or one week to...