Farmers in Thika East District that comprises of Gatuanyaga, Munyu and Githima Locations have been urged to stop using burning as a method of land clearing.
Speaking to journalists in his office on Wednesday, Thika East Agricultural officer Stephen Muia noted that many farmers in the area are currently burning the dry vegetation on their lands in preparation for the October rains.
Muia said it is risky for farmers to engage in the practice considering the current dry weather in the area.
"We would like to warn the farmers against the practice as this place is usually windy and fires can easily spread to other farms with growing crops and cause great damage,” said Muia.
Muia advised farmers to instead use other safer methods like slashing or just letting the already dry vegetation to die and rot in the farms saying it would increase the soil organic matter.
The agricultural officer said that burning had other disadvantages like killing essential soil micro-organisms and degrading the soil physical conditions.