Farmers Urged to Plant Climate Resistant Food Crops

By Elizabeth Angira

Worth Noting:

• She encouraged farmers to venture into climatic resistant crops which takes shorter time to mature and ready for harvest.
• Aburi advised farmers against abandoning cultivation of drought resistant food crops which can also be stored for longer periods and also to diversify agricultural production for better benefits of tomorrow.
• In a separate interview, Nathan Soire, Kisii County Director of Agriculture,  noted that there are benefits of planting drought resistant crops, which includes producing larger crop yields.
• “This is because research shows that planting climate resilient maize crops leads to 25 per cent more crop yield. This is because these crops are still able to grow in periods when the rain fails, “said Soire.

Dorice Donya Aburi, Kisii County, Member of the National Assembly,   has donated foodstuffs to the residents and encouraged farmers to grow climatic resistant crops which can withstand harsh climatic conditions.

Speaking at Mumo location in South Mugirango during the donation of food stuffs and clothes, Aburi said she initiated Donya Charity Mission Project to reach out to vulnerable groups in the community and provide them with basic needs which many families are unable to meet due to the high cost of living.

Aburi  noted, with the effects of climate change such as prolonged dry season which came much earlier on fruiting and flowering period, most family farmers are witnessing poor harvests  during this  time.

“It’s not easy for many people to get food for their families, poor harvest is witnessed across the country, members of the public are unable to buy food because of the high prices,” she said.

She encouraged farmers to venture into climatic resistant crops which takes shorter time to mature and ready for harvest.

Aburi advised farmers against abandoning cultivation of drought resistant food crops which can also be stored for longer periods and also to diversify agricultural production for better benefits of tomorrow.

In a separate interview, Nathan Soire, Kisii County Director of Agriculture,   noted that there are benefits of planting drought resistant crops, which includes producing larger crop yields.

“This is because research shows that planting climate resilient maize crops leads to 25 per cent more crop yield. This is because these crops are still able to grow in periods when the rain fails, “said Soire.

He cited that even though there are benefits that come with planting drought resistant crops, there are various steps that farmers must take to make the most out of planting these tolerant varieties.

Soire said that farmers should practice mulching which is the process of covering soil between plants with a layer of material to keep the soil moist, this is done to keep moisture in during periods of drought.

According to Soire, unlike traditional seeds drought resistant or tolerant seeds have to be purchased every year and even though drought tolerant crops produce seeds, they lose their drought protection capacities with time so farmers are advised to purchase new seeds not save seeds from previous harvests.

He noted that the use of drought resistant crops and the incorporation of efforts from farmers currently and in the future will bring greater yields, improved incomes and increased food security.

Soire cautioned farmers against selling their crops as individuals to discourage middlemen and brokers who always reduce the prices of produce thus exploiting them.

He also challenged the residents to apply new technologies as farm methods for sufficient food supply to curb food insecurity amidst climate change crisis.

Caption:

Dorice Donya Aburi, Kisii County Member of the National Assembly, donating foodstuffs to Mumo residents in South Mugirango  photo /Elizabeth Angira