Indigenous weather experts predict heavy El Nino rains

Indigenous weather ‘experts’ from Marsabit have predicted above average rains after analyzing the intestines of a goat.

They made the prediction when officials from the county government’s Department of Agriculture held a planning workshop for farmers on Monday to strategise on the forecast El-Nino rains.

During the meeting, the traditional weather forecasters agreed with the Kenya Meteorological the country will experience above-average rains.

The workshop held at the ACK St Stephen’s Training Centre saw participants treated to an eye-catching experience as the traditional weather forecasters slaughtered a goat and used its intestines to make predictions for the short rainy season.

The three predictors, two drawn from the Borana community and one from the Gabra community, analysed the intestines and gave results of enhanced and above-average rains similar to a report presented by the weatherman.

“Most of the rain, which I can describe as potential and good enough to support food crops, will be received along the areas that border the Ethiopian highlands,” said Wario Qonchora from Maikona in North Horr constituency, adding that the adequate rain would also be spread to the lowlands.

Overseers

As was the prediction of the other two overseers, locally known as Uchu, the analysis of the intestines showed that Marsabit County would continue to enjoy the restored lull and peace, an enabling environment for social and economic development. They, however, asked the government to plan for an upsurge of biting insects, which could result in an outbreak of diseases like the deadly kalazar and malaria.

The Chief Officer for Food Security and Crop Development, Orge Barji, said her department has brought all stakeholders on board to enable farmers to maximise the expected good rains and boost food production.

Ms Barji disclosed that the government has purchased 16.5 tonnes of assorted fast-maturing seeds to distribute to needy farmers across the county.

The seeds include maize, beans, sorghum, and pigeon peas, with the county government predicting a bumper harvest for this season as more pastoralists continue to diversify into crop farming after the prolonged drought wiped out 80 per cent of their livestock.

Subidised fee

The county government has provided tractor services at a subsidised fee to enable local farmers to prepare their farms on time, a move which has seen the acreage under crop increase from 1,600 acres to 6,000 acres.

“We have deployed 8 tractors to the field, and another three are undergoing repairs to enhance the on-going farm mechanisation works,” the chief officer told the participants, adding that the procured seeds will be distributed at the start of next week. She said that it was the desire of the government to have distributed the seeds a month ago, but there was a challenge with production at the Kenya Seed Company.

All stakeholders, including the Kenyan agricultural and livestock research organisation (Kalro), KMD, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), farmers, indigenous weather experts, the media, and technical government departments, were brought together to plan for farming activities and safety measures as regards the El-Nino rains.

Expected rains

Ms Barji called on Marsabit residents to take advantage of the expected heavy and prolonged rains to plant trees, saying tree-growing was the most effective measure to mitigate climate change.

According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, there would be a good distribution of the October-December rains, with enhanced and above-average rainfall set to hit Moyale sub-county and parts of Marsabit Central.

The forum, supported by the Agriculture Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP), observed that challenges, which include flooding not only of farmlands but of settlement areas, destruction of roads, blockage of drainage storms in urban centres, soil erosion, and an upsurge of water-related diseases, could be brought about by the El-Nino rains. It advised collaborative planning and resource mobilisation in readiness for the predicted weather phenomenon in order to avert suffering and loss of lives.