Nairobi: With the onset of the March-May rains, farmers across the country have been urged to embark on land tillage and preparation but to delay planting until the rains increase in intensity.

According to Kenya News Agency, the rains will take a break midweek and resume at the end of the week and beginning of April.

Soil analyst Bernard Ndun'gu observes that before planting, it is paramount for farmers to address the factors that contribute to a decline in farm productivity and perennial losses. He said changes in weather patterns remained the greatest influence towards declining farm productivity as low rainfall does not support proper growth of crops. However, despite the little rainfall received, other factors that could contribute to a decline in production needed to be addressed as most farms have lost over 40 percent of their productivity.

Ndun'gu emphasizes that before the onset of the rains, clearing and preparation of the land for planting should be done thoroughly by clearing the vegetation, ploughing, harrowing, and leveling to create a suitable seed bed. He notes that farmers need to also do soil testing to determine the soil pH and nutrient levels to ensure optimal plant growth and choose appropriate fertilizers.

The soil analyst further notes that after land preparation, only certified seeds and healthy planting materials should be used to increase crop production as they have a high germination percentage with uniformity and fast growth rate. Obtaining certified seeds and healthy planting materials is likely to yield crops that are resistant to pests, disease, and drought and free from weeds, thereby producing high yields.

Additionally, farmers should ensure that at planting, they apply manure and fertilizers appropriately to boost the level of organic matter and nutrients in the soil. Importantly, the fertilizer required should be applied in the right amount and the required ratio in relation to nutrients available in the soil and crop needs.

Ndun'gu advises that different crops require different management practices during production, such as mulching, pruning, training, ridging, watering, thinning, pest and disease control, and de-suckering like in bananas, and farmers should carry out proper management of crops. These practices are aimed at increasing yield, and farmers should ensure they know how different crops present.

He underscores the importance of adopting scouting practices for early detection of pests and diseases for increased crop production, as pest and disease attacks have caused significant damage to crops and unquantifiable loss to farmers. Notably, fall armyworms have been a great enemy to crops, causing a decline in maize yields, while tomato farmers have been highly affected by Tuta absoluta.

Some common diseases such as CBD in coffee, fusarium, and bacterial wilt in crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, and sweet pepper, among others, have had an adverse impact on yields. Ndun'gu stresses the need for farmers to use the right pesticide, fungicide, and disease control chemicals to control the spread of diseases and pests, following the right application rate, time, and method for effective control.

Further, he advises farmers to follow correct agricultural practices to maximize crop yields by building and maintaining healthy soil, which is a fundamental component of sustainable agriculture. Healthy soil provides the necessary nutrients, water retention capacity, and pest resistance needed for crops to thrive while also contributing to climate change mitigation.

Ndun'gu also urges farmers to seek agronomic assistance by attending farmers' days, workshops, and training, which have been key and informative to farmers.