The prevailing drought and the resultant high temperatures has left organic farmers around Nairobi feeling the heat.

Maureen Wanjiru who practises organic farming in Githiga village within Kiambu County, told Wananchi Reporting that the current weather condition is hurting their farms.

“The rains have kept away, and so we are forced to rely on borehole water, which is not sustainable given most are already running low due to the drought,” says Ms. Wanjiru who has been practicing organic farming since 2014.

She says that most organic farmers around the country, especially the small scale farmers, continue to suffer huge losses due to the drought.

“There are a lot of aphids in the farms now due to the dry weather, which make it hard for the crops to flourish, not forgetting locusts that eat whatever is left of the crops leaving nothing behind,” she said.

That the drought has affected flowers which die in the scorching heat as a result affecting pollination.

“Pollination is an important element in this kind of farming, and so when it fails to occur, the yield is affected greatly,” added Ms. Wanjiru.

Adding that: "Some vegetables like lettuce become bitter and unpalatable making it hard to eat it raw as it should."

Ms. Wanjiru plants lettuce, Swiss chard, raspberry, wine berries, spinach, Ethiopian kale, spring onions, strawberries, tomatoes among other crops.

“There is always market for organic food. This is because there are people who just want organic food; some out of choice, others because of health challenges,” she says.  

She is pleading with the government to come up with mitigation measures to support small scale organic farmers.