By Wycliffe Musalia 

A few Rift Valley farmers are rescuing most of their rain-fed maize harvests as their neighbours write off failed and dried out crops, after planting early and adding organic manure to their soil that held on to the early rains.

“Some farmers, including myself, who used organic and compost manure are hopeful of getting at least half of what they anticipated to harvest per acre. For example, I was expecting 30 bags but with the situation I can anticipate about 20 bags,” said Joseph Kariuki, in an interview with FarmBizAfrica from Kitale.

“This is because organic manure keeps the water in the farms. If you compare a farm that had organic manure, the maize plants have not been affected with the dry season as opposed to those who used artificial fertilisers,” he said.

The Rift Valley had strong rains in February and March, but nearly none in May and June, leaving farmers who waited until April to plant with destroyed crops.

Farming 30 acres of maize in Kwanza Sub county, Joseph said the burst of rain followed by prolonged dryness had made timing critical.

“The impact has not been as tough for those who planted during the first rains, they are better off. They will at least get some harvest. For this year, the first rains in Kitale appeared in February. Those who planted maize during that time will harvest normally.”

“I do not just wait for April rains, sometimes I prepare my farm as early as December, immediately after the short planting season, and take advantage of first rains due to changing weather patterns.”

For later planters, the dry spell has been catastrophic.

Thomas Kiplagat, who owns maize farms in Uasin Gishu and Trans Mara is now counting losses amounting of Sh7.4 million from his 240 acres.

“This year, the drought affected our maize planted in April and May during the long rain season. We were hoping the rains will go on as usual, but then they stopped, soon after we had done top-dressing.”

Meanwhile, Joseph is nowmaking use of the affected maize stalks to make compost manure for the next season, but is planning to change what he plants, based on the forecast El Niño season.. 

“We are making use of the dry maize stalks in the farm now, cutting them and collecting together with the animal wastes, putting themin a closed pit to form compost manure. This manure retains the soil moisture and keeps the crops hydrated,” he said

“As we anticipate upcoming El-Niño rains, we will plant short season crops like sweet potatoes, wheat, sorghum, millet, beans, and two and a half-month maize variety like katumani.”