Rainfall boosts crop, livestock production

Seasonal rainfall boosted crop and livestock production in most counties, the National Drought Management Authority has said.

In arid and semi-arid areas, indicators show enhanced rainfall that was fairly distributed both in time and space, the agency said in a drought status report.

Counties such as Kwale, Kilifi, Makueni, Marsabit, Garissa, Baringo and Turkana had rainfall in excess of 110 per cent of the long-term mean for May.

Short-lived and intense rainfall significantly boosted crop production, but caused flash floods in counties such as Baringo, Marsabit, Turkana and Makueni.

Water sources in Marsabit were fully recharged, while most pans and dams in Narok had above normal water levels.

The report also indicates that in marginal agricultural counties, the crops are in fairly good condition. Harvesting of beans, pigeon peas, cow peas and green grams has started.

“In pastoral counties, the condition of livestock has improved significantly as a result of availability of forage and water, leading to increased milk availability and household income,” says the report.

The seasonal rainfall also resulted in high vegetation, with arid and semi-arid counties recording "greenness values that are within normal to above normal ranges".

Milk production has risen by five per cent in Marsabit while crop production has increased.

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Editor's Note: This story has been updated to remove misleading references to weather conditions described in the report from the National Drought Management Authority.