Kenyan farmers have to contend with high cost of production as a biting cold weather hits several parts of the east African nation. The cold weather, which normally kicks off in July, started in late May, worsening an already bad situation for farmers after the March-May rains failed.
The rains started in late April, instead of March, and ended mid-last month, according to the Meteorological Department.
Over the years, the cold initially affected mainly the capital Nairobi and the central and Rift Valley highlands, but has now hit most parts of the county, pushing hundreds of farmers to the edge as the east African nation grapples with the adverse effects of climate change.
The worst affected farmers include those keeping poultry, goats and sheep. Crop farmers, growers of potatoes, coffee, strawberry and tomatoes are also among those counting losses.
A majority of tomato farmers in Kenya, especially those growing the produce in the open field, are struggling with blight, a severe cold weather disease. The disease attacks leaves forming circular brown lesions. The leaves later turn yellow and fall off.
"If a farmer does not diligently spray crops like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and capsicum with chemicals at least once every week when the temperatures are too low, the crop dies," said Beatrice Macharia of Growth Point, an agro-consultancy.
Source: xinhuanet.com