Tag Archives: fertilizer

The Seed Survival Guide (ASAL Special)

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🌱 Stop! Don’t Bury Your Money: The Seeds That Will Survive the 2026 “Insignificant Rains”

Farmers in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) are walking a tightrope. With the Met Department warning of “intermittent dry spells” and poor distribution, planting standard 6-month maize is a gamble you will likely lose.

The “Smart Farm” Swap:

  1. Swap H614 for SC Sungura 301: If you must plant maize, use ultra-early varieties. SC Sungura 301 matures in just 75-85 days and thrives on less than 250mm of rain.
  2. Swap Beans for Mbaazi-6: Traditional pigeon peas take 10 months. The new Mbaazi-6 variety from KALRO is ready in under 3 months. It needs rain only during flowering; after that, it uses deep roots to survive the heat.
  3. Check Dryland Varieties: Look for the DH Series (DH04, DH08) which are specifically bred for these conditions.

References:

Farm Biz Africa Crops that can reach harvest in 2024’s dry short rains

KALRO Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies,Innovations and Management Practices for Green Gram Value Chain

Kenya Seed Dryland Varieties – Maize Varieties

The “Two Kenyas” Forecast – Know Your Zone Before You Hoe

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🌦️ Wet West, Dry East: Why One Strategy Won’t Work for All in MAM 2026

The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) has dropped its forecast for the March-April-May (MAM) long rains, and it paints a picture of two very different planting seasons.

  • The Good News: If you are in the Highlands West of the Rift (Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Kericho) or the Lake Victoria Basin, get your tractors ready. The forecast predicts near-average to above-average rainfall. This is the green light for high-yield maize farming.
  • The Warning: For farmers in the Southeastern Lowlands (Kitui, Makueni), Northeastern, and the Coast, the forecast is tough. You are facing “near-average to below-average” rainfall, with a high chance of insignificant rains—meaning showers that wet the dust but don’t sustain a crop.

The Takeaway: Don’t copy your neighbor in Eldoret if you live in Machakos. The government is urging everyone to plant, but what you plant matters more than ever.

  • West: Go for maximum yield (600 series maize).
  • East/North: Go for survival (fast-maturing crops).

References:

Nairobi Leo Kenya Met Issues March-May 2026 Long Rains Forecast

Daily Nation End of drought in sight, but coming rains will be insignificant for arid regions

All Africa Above-Average Rains Expected in Key Regions, Weatherman Warns of Dry Spells Elsewhere