Kitui will largely get below average OND rain- Met

Kitui Meteorological Services director, Daniel Mbithi, said  the rains will come late in the fourth week of October with Athi, Mutha, Endau- Malalani, Nguni and Ngomeni wards getting minimal rain.

“Although the rain is generally expected to be near or below normal, Kitui County will generally experience depressed rains that will cease early in the second or third week of December,” noted Mbithi.

Speaking to newsmen in Kitui last weekend, Mbithi advised farmers in Kitui County to plant early in order to expect some harvest. He emphasized on the planting of drought tolerant and early maturing crops.

“In order to avoid crop failure from the depressed rains, farmers are supposed to grow early maturing and drought escaping crops like mung bean, millet, sorghum and cowpeas,” said Mbithi.

He said even as farmers plant early maturing or drought tolerant crops they should as well invoke regenerative agriculture innovations like the creation of Zai pits and building of terracing.

He added that applying manure and mulching to minimize evaporations when it rains would be a prudent move.

Mbithi further said growing grass would be a good option for farmers in Kitui especially livestock keepers because grass does not need a lot of rain to grow and would ensure good pasture for animals.

The met official discouraged the growing of maize during the coming rains except in the highland areas in the central and north western parts of Kitui that expected to receive between 400mm to 500mm of rainfall.

He named the areas as Miambani, Mulango, Kyangwithya East, Nzambani, Kyuluni, Matinyani, Mutonguni, Mumoni and Tharaka wards of the county.

Mbithi said farmers in the ecological zone that is expected to receive rains of between 300 to 400 mm would be safe to grow early maturing maize varieties.

He, however, cautioned that intermitted dry spells would be experienced.