Farmers embrace short-cycle crops to beat climate change risks

For Kenyan maize farmers, the effects of climate change have forced them to re-think new crop husbandry practices to boost their yields in the face of emerging challenges.

Researchers and other stakeholders in the maize farming value chain are also coming hardy with new maize varieties and strategies to cope with rising temperatures, as well as erratic rainfall patterns.

For instance, in Eastern and Southern Africa, maize occupies up to 75 per cent of all cropland. It is the staple food of many residents in the region.

Research has, however, projected that in the coming years, maize production will plummet by 15 per cent due to the negative effects of climate change.

The region risks losing Sh6.4 trillion (US$45 billion) in agricultural production in the coming years mainly due to higher temperatures, shorter growing seasons and more extreme droughts and floods. “We are advising farmers to grow maize varieties that take shorter periods –usually three months to capitalise on the erratic rainfall seasons. We are also urging farmers to intercrop maize with pulses, such as beans and pigeon peas to boost soil fertility, as well as yields per acre,” observed John Waihenya, a Kenya agricultural extension officer working with rural farmers on the effects of climate change.

In tandem with the advice from Waihenya, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Karlo) has also asked farmers to practice soil and water conservation to reduce loss of water.

Conservation agriculture, use of cover crops, mulching and zero tillage are highly recommended for maize farmers.

Farmers are also becoming experts in matters pertaining to maize varieties to grow in their areas.

According to market intelligence research conducted by the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in Kenya, early maturing, as well as adaptability to changing weather conditions are key factors determining choice of maize seed varieties for planting among farmers.

Poverty reduction

During the long-rains season, farmers in higher rainfall production environments -wet, mid and high altitudes- purchased early-maturity seed products despite potentially lower yields, the study noted.

Also, early-maturity products dominated the short-rains season, which represents almost one-fourth of total maize seed sales.

These insights were obtained through a panel of maize-seed sales data from 722 agro-dealers in Kenya during two short-rains seasons and three long-rains seasons in 2020 to 2022.

In the drier parts of Runyenjes in Embu County, farmers have had to endure crop losses due to extended drought and unpredictable rainy seasons.

New technologies, however, are turning the fortunes of these mainly smallholder farmers.

“Using crop diversification and water management technologies have allowed us to get maize harvest in the last two seasons, assuring my family of food security,” observed Mary Mbuya a farmer from the region and a convert to the new technologies.

In the recent past, Karlo in partnership with the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) have launched a crop diversification programme that is helping maize farmers boost their yields even with the emerging detrimental effects of climate change.

The initiative, known as Ukama Ustawi is being implemented with farmers in Nakuru, Embu, Narok, Kakamega and Makueni Counties.

According to researchers, maize-mixed systems cover over 75per cent of the cropping land in Kenya, with smallholders dominating the farming systems.

Crop diversification seeks to promote crop diversity by crop rotation, multiple cropping, or intercropping, with the goal of improving productivity, sustainability, and supply of ecological systems.

Diversifying systems entails using varieties and seeds adapted to local climate and pests, sustainable mechanisation, applying soil and water conservation practices, improve water management and investing in agricultural knowledge application.

“Crop diversification has proven beneficial not just because it’s an innovative farming technique, but also because it manages to overcome a lot of farming problems caused by changing environment”, noted Dr Boaz Waswa, Ukama Ustawi WP 1 Kenya Lead.

Poverty reduction

Under the initiative, KALRO researchers and farmers have established 76 demonstration plots on lead farmers fields in Embu County, showcasing a set of diverse crop diversification technologies integrating maize and legumes under monocropping, rotation, intercropping and strip cropping systems and complementary technologies include use of manure and fertiliser, furrows, planting pits, mulch and other good agronomic practices.

Conservation agriculture is also gaining prominence among African farmers especially for farmers unable to access inorganic fertilisers.

Conservation agriculture can boost crop production especially for farmers who cannot access fertilisers, another study by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) now says.

Cropping diversity, soil enriching crops and adding organic materials to soils can boost food crop yields for farmers, the research adds.

For instance, rotating maize and pigeonpeas -under conservation agriculture practises can improve soil fertility and capture and retain water. “In places where farmers’ access to fertiliser is limited, such as sub-Saharan Africa or the Central American Highlands, ecological intensification can complement scarce fertiliser resources to increase crop yields, boosting households’ incomes and food security,” said Dr. Christian Thierfelder, a CIMMYT cropping systems agronomist and study co-author.

According to researchers, these maize-based cropping systems showed considerable resilience against climate effects that increasingly threaten smallholders.

 Besides boosting crop yields, ecological intensification can cut the environmental and economic costs of productive farming.