In Nyandarua County there are two climatic conditions – areas that get enough rain, mostly Kinangop, Kipipri, Oljoroorok, Mirangine and Ol Kalou while parts of Ndaragwa are dry.
In both climatic zones farmers for a long time have experienced crop failure due to harsh climatic conditions, either excessive rains and frost or very dry spells.
While farms in the dry parts incur losses due to failed rain, those in other parts suffer crop destruction by frost and excess rain.
Coupled with climate change, Nyandarua County is faced with exhausted soil, which also threatens food security.
However, farmers in Nyandarua are turning to insurance as they cushion themselves against crop losses.
The losses are caused by climate change due to unpredictable weather patterns being experienced in the country.
During a recent farmers’ forum in Ndaragwa organised by Apollo Agriculture, the farmers said they have been facing unprecedented weather oscillation that results in either crop failure or destruction, causing them huge losses in money and food security.
John Njoroge from Kinangop said his area has been experiencing frost or unusually heavy rains, resulting in crop losses, attributing the weather swing to climate change.
As the need to cushion themselves against crop losses caused by the adverse weather patterns rises, many farmers have turned to insuring their crops with insurance organizations.
Farmers who have insured their crops have been reaping money from insurance service providers, thus cushioned against huge losses they might have experienced.
For instance, recently about 800 farmers in Nyandarua who have partnered with Apollo Agriculture—an organization that is helping smallholder farmers optimize their farm use and enhance food security by practicing climate-resilient farming—have shared Sh7.9 million in payouts for crop losses incurred last season.
According to the organization’s chief customer officer, Benjamin Njenga, Apollo Agriculture connects the farmers to APA Insurance, which pays them for any crop failure, either by heavy rains, frost or drought.
Njenga also said the organization gives farmers inputs on credit hence helping farmers optimize their agricultural activities by doing climate-resilient farming to maximize food security, which he said is their main mission.
“We ensure smallholder farmers are able to unlock economic value of their land by empowering them to improve their productivity through access to credit and quality inputs,” noted Njenga.
Last year, residents of Mukungi location in Kinangop went for two seasons without proper harvest, according to a village elder John Njoroge.
“Potatoes, peas and maize are no longer doing well here. The potato crop is getting extinct for reasons we don’t know,” observed Njoroge, adding that people will soon start relying on food donation if urgent action is not taken to restore soil fertility.
Another farmer, Mercy Mwihaki, appeals for water storage tank donations so that families can start irrigated kitchen gardens to grow vegetables to improve their diets to counter the changing weather pattern that is affecting food security for families.
“Since our usual crops are no longer doing well, we can start kitchen gardens if we get water tanks so that we can improve nutrition intake through proper diet,” Mwihaki said.
Mukungi sub-location assistant chief John Kigo attributes the poor food security to last year’s flash floods that destroyed entire crop of the season.
“People are starving because rain destroyed crops last year. People did not harvest anything,” noted Kigo.
Low food production in Nyandarua County is threatening gains made in the fight against malnutrition and stunted growth that have dogged Nyandarua residents for long.
The County is among devolved units with high malnutrition-related maladies, among them stunted growth rate which stands at 19 percent according to 2022 Kenya Demographic and House Survey.
Last year, with help from two organizations—Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and Care Kenya, the County developed a five-year action plan to combat malnutrition among residents.
Among many other government interventions to cushion farmers against unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change, the national government should work closely with county governments to ensure farmers are well sensitized to the need to insure not only their crops but also their other farming activities.
By Kimani Tirus
