Farmers, pastoralists urged to heed to advisories to avert famine

Farmers in Garissa County have been urged to take seriously the advisories developed by the Agricultural Sector and Development Support Programme (ASDSP) in order to avoid losses occasioned by drought.

According to ASDSP coordinator Ahmed Abdikarim, the advisories indicate that September, October and November may experience short rains and have been distributed to farmers and pastoralists in the seven sub-counties.

While addressing the press after a day-long meeting that brought together key stakeholders and farmers, Abdikarim said that farmers and pastoralists in the area will have a difficult time if it does not rain and that they should take caution and early measures such as removing their water pumps sets along the river as well as harvesting ready crops on the river banks.

He noted that it is only the advisories that can assist them in scaling down their activities in case the rains fail and vise versa.

He added that ADSP was projecting a 60 mm and above rain fall, which he said would be sufficient for pasture growth but was quick to advise pastoralists to sell some of their livestock so as to avoid losses of the drought persists.