The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
TOBACCO farmers should embrace new drought-resistant varieties and employ good agronomic practices as the nation braces for the imminent 2023-24 El-Niño-affected cropped season.
In a statement, Kutsaga executive director for research and extension services Dr Susan Dimbi said they had released new varieties to counter climate change.
“It is important to ensure that the crop survives the extended dry period. Cultural practices can markedly affect the quality of the crop,” said Dr Dimbi.
“The new varieties (T78, T79, T80 and T81) were bred for a generally short growth duration that allows them to mature early and escape drought, especially in situations where the crop is predicted to suffer a late-season drought stress.”
Additionally, Dr Dimbi said, the other two varieties – KRK71 and KRK75 – have the remarkable capacity to rebound, give high yields and maintain leaf quality after a debilitating drought-growing season, as compared to others.
“The varieties KRK71 and KRK75 should be the varieties of choice in drought-prone areas and also when drought is forecasted.”
She said good yields are still possible despite changes in climate if farmers adjust and adopt good agronomic practices.
“Tie-ridging or potholing should be carried out to enable any rain or added water to be retained and not lost through run-off.
“Farmers need to avoid re-ridging and make informed decisions before adding top-dressing fertilisers during the drought period, as this causes loss of soil moisture,” she said.
It is important, she added, to ensure that sufficient water is applied during the planting period to link up with residual moisture that had been conserved by early ploughing.
Meanwhile, most commercial farmers that irrigate their crops are presently transplanting seedlings from the seedbed to the fields.
The earliest date for transplanting irrigated tobacco onto the fields is September 1, while that for dryland normally follows a month later.
