Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago has challenged the Kenya Meteorological Department to invest in acquiring modern equipment that will provide an accurate and dependable weather forecast.

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The governor claims the department had given out misleading forecast over the period rains will be experienced in the North Rift region, the country's grain-basket.

Speaking in Eldoret town on Friday, Mandago lamented that most farmers are now confused as to whether they should start planting or not following conflicting predictions from the weatherman.

"Meteorological department needs to acquire modern facilities that will enable farmers to depend on them unless they want us to go back to the traditional weather forecasting," said the vocal county boss.

"They told farmers that there will be no rain for one week but we are witnessing the opposite and this has created confusion amongst them," he added.

The governor, however, asked farmers to be ready to plant once the rains reduce.

"I want to ask farmers to be ready to plant once the heavy rains reduce, they should not wait for another time because there will be none," he said.

The Meteorological Department had cautioned farmers against rushing to plant noting that the onset of the March-May rains would be delayed this year, and will likely begin in the third or fourth week of March in most areas.