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The secret behind climate change: How are Rift Valley farmers coping with surging rainfall intensity?
Rainfall patterns in Kenya's Rift Valley in March, April and May have changed significantly since the 1970s. During this period, rainfall increased, but the number of rainy days decreased, resulting in a significant increase in rainfall intensity. These changes reflect the effects of climate change and are closely related to rising average annual temperatures and rising sea surface temperatures in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Increased rainfall intensity has led to soil erosion and less fertile land, while fewer rainfall days have shortened the growing season, which has impacted the livelihoods and socio-economic lives of farmers in the Rift Valley whose livelihood depends on agriculture.
Changing rainfall patterns in the Rift Valley
According to a study of the Rift Valley from 1976 to 2005, rainfall patterns not only increased in number, but the number of rainy days continued to decrease. Rainfall during this period increased by 18 mm over the main growing season, although the number of rainy days decreased from an average of 29 days in 1976 to 1985 to 26 days in 1996 to 2005.
This trend of increasing rainfall and decreasing rainfall days means that rainfall intensity intensifies, especially in the months of April and May.
Rainfall patterns in the Rift Valley are divided into two main seasons, the main rainfall season from March to May, and the secondary rainfall season from October to December. The study found that this increased rainfall intensity resulted in a more unstable growing environment for crops.
Reason for the change
These changes in rainfall patterns are thought to be a direct result of climate change. According to data, the average temperature in East Africa increased by 0.05 degrees Celsius in each decade of the 20th century. High temperatures increase evaporation rates, resulting in intensified rainfall intensity. At the same time, typhoon activity caused by climate change has become more frequent, which has further affected rainfall patterns.
Forecasts show that future rainfall in East Africa may increase by 5-20% in wet months and decrease by 5-10% in dry months.
Impact on agriculture and livelihoods
The people of the Rift Valley rely primarily on agriculture and subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Changes in rainfall directly affect people's lives and the economy. Agriculture supports 75% of the population and meets the country's food needs. In this case, if rainfall patterns change too much, it could have devastating effects on agriculture.
According to the study, rainfall conditions between 1976 and 2005 were favorable for subsistence farming, but crop yields failed to improve due to increased rainfall intensity and fewer rainy days. Intense rainfall causes mudslides and soil erosion, problems that leave the land infertile.
Due to the shortened growing season, farmers have had to choose different corn varieties to adapt to the new growing conditions, but the yields of these new varieties are not as good as previous varieties.
Agricultural adaptation to changing rainfall patterns
Facing increasingly severe changes in rainfall intensity and patterns, farmers in the Rift Valley began to adopt a series of measures to improve agricultural management. Replenishing soil moisture has become key, and farmers have strengthened water management, including using terraces or drainage ditches to guide rainfall. At the same time, the practice of collecting rainwater from roofs has also become popular in the local area, which helps to reduce soil erosion.
While farming, 43% of farmers plant trees on their farms, which is proven to improve farm productivity.
Reft Valley farmers are constantly exploring new ways to adapt to this changing environment. While agricultural adaptation measures have helped them face difficulties to some extent, real challenges remain.
Facing the challenge of climate change, can farmers in the Rift Valley adapt to increasingly intense rainfall and protect their livelihoods and land?
