Long rainy season has started in Kenya, signaling the beginning of planting, but low rainfall in most parts of the country has put its farmers in plight. 
The farmers, most of whom had prepared their land in February, have waited desperately for over a month for rains to come.
Part of the East African nation is receiving rainfall, including the Rift Valley, Nairobi and central highlands, the Coast and the Northeast, however, most of its areas have recorded low rainfall in a single day with the highest being 47 mm in Meru and Eastern Kenya, according to meteorological department.
Some regions recorded rainfall of less than 10 mm, which cannot effectively support planting.
“Despite the low rainfall, we are happy that the rains have finally come. It signals hope for us, but we are still cautious about planting because of the low intensity of the rain,” Fredrick Anjeche, a farmer from Kitale, Kenya’s breadbasket, told Xinhua on Tuesday.
Anjeche had prepared his land for planting maize and beans in February, but he is not sure if he should continue or not.
“So far it, has rained only twice in a week and the raining time was very short. I want to plant, but my consciousness tells me I should wait a little longer because the rains might disappear as it happened in the past,” said Anjeche, who is struggling to get market for his last season produce.
The farmer, who has seeds and fertilizer ready, has to make a tough decision because if he does not plant on time on his 10 acres, he will risk his maize being affected by the deadly necrosis disease.
On the other hand, if he plants and the rains fail, it will incur losses of up to 660 U.S. dollars arising from the cost of seeds, fertilizer and labor.
According to the meteorological department, most areas in western and central highlands in the East African nation are expected to experience afternoon or evening showers and thunderstorms in the coming days.
However, Samuel Mwangi, a member of the department, has warned farmers that the rains would not be enough this season.
“The rains would be little during the planting season, but may increase in the next months. Farmers should, therefore, be prepared for the low rains,” said Mwangi, as he advised them to plant crops which do not need heavy rains.
But the advise has come too late as many farmers have already bought maize and bean seeds, popular cereals in Kenya.
“I cannot switch to sorghum or millet right now after I have already invested a lot of money in fertilizer and seeds, but I will not ignore the advice, thus I will not plant maize on my entire five acres. I will leave space sorghum,” said George Oduori, a farmer in Busia. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
