How to deal with “Njanuary” woes in 2020

Drought season in Kenya varies with climatic changes year in
year out. But the most hardening-dry season comes between the months of January
to March.

According to the National Drought Management Authority’s
(NDMA), since 2017 long rain seasons have been drastically changing, extending
drought conditions to the month of May. As a result, most families in the
country suffer from hunger and lack of food.

Reports show that the number of food insecure people more
than doubled – from 1.3 million to 2.7 million, with maize production –being the
stable food –reducing in most parts of the country between the years 2014 to
2019.

To deal with such cases of drought, farmers need to cultivate
drought resistant crops, which can aid in reducing cases of hunger and malnutrition
among Kenyans in arid and semi-arid areas.

These crops have proved to thrive in poor soils and yields
high produce regardless of the amount of rain they receive as highlighted
below.

Cowpeas or ‘Kunde’

Commonly known as black-eyed pea, cowpea is grown mainly for
its edible beans across the world but in Kenya, it has been proved as a
vegetable, with its highly nutritious tender leaves and young pods used to make
delicious vegetable dishes

The leaves are rich
in fiber, have vitamins and antioxidants which are useful in healing diabetic,
cardiovascular and overweight conditions.

Cowpeas leaves. Image|Courtesy

Growing cowpeas does not require much attention from the
farmer and its maintenance is minimal. All a farmer needs to do is to choose
the best location to grow the crop, prepare seedbed ready to plant, plant the
seeds with correct spacing, water the crop accordingly afterwards and maintain
the garden from animal destructions.

Groundnuts

Groundnuts grow well in warm areas, and can survive drought
or reduced rain but well-drained soils are needed although the crop can also
grow well in clay soils.

The best planting seasons for this crop are between the
months of February to March and August-September.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes have over the years proved to be hunger-sever
food, with high nutritious value. The orange fleshed sweet potatoes varieties (promoted
by KEPHIS) are rich in vitamin A, an essential component in the body that
supports immunity, boosts vision and keeps bones healthy.

Cooked sweet potatoes. Image|Courtesy

Sweet potatoes have a growing period of 3-6 months depending
on the variety.

Cassava

Research has shown that Cassava is a major staple food after
maize and rice and being one of the most drought-tolerant crops, it do well on
marginal soils.