Agricultural experts have urged farmers in Kiambu County to diversify their farming practices and grow traditional drought and disease resistant crops to curb food shortages.
Speaking on Friday at Kiambu Agricultural Office, Kiambu Agriculture CeC Dr Monica Wainganjo said diversification of agricultural practices is the way to go as it will ensure the county is food sufficient.
Most farmers in the county reported crop failure due to the prolonged drought and the emerging maize disease that destroyed the crop.
The CeC said to ensure farmers are cushioned from the erratic rains, drought and the maize disease, the county government has embarked on a major exercise of training farmers on the importance of growing traditional crops such as sorghum, millet, cassava, sweet potatoes, arrow roots and other crops that are disease and drought resistant.
“Farmers should brace for change from what they have been doing for decades in their farms to ensure their labour is not wasted due to massive crop failure,” said Dr Waiganjo.
Commenting on cattle rearing, Dr Waiganjo said the county government has engaged private practitioners to assist in the vaccination of animals against food and mouth disease.
Speaking at the same event Agriculture Chief Officer Jane Muigai noted that the county government is in the advanced stages of reviving the fish ponds constructed under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) which had stalled across the county.
“We are targeting schools and self-help groups by encouraging them to consider fish farming as an economic venture,” said Muigai.