The August 26 El Niño warning by the Kenya Meteorological Service took me back to my years in farming between 2015 and 2023, when I witnessed how extreme weather could wipe out months of hard work.
During prolonged heat, farmers desperately searched for ways to save their crops. At an agrovet in Kitengela, where I farmed French beans, new chemicals were marketed as solutions that could improve moisture retention and protect crops from scorching temperatures. Like many farmers, I hoped they would make a difference.
The latest forecast warns of above-average rainfall between late September and December, with an increased risk of flooding and landslides across many parts of Kenya. That means agriculture once again faces serious threats from unpredictable weather.
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