🌱 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Jijuze 