This study sought to examine the impact of the 1997 El Nino related rains on subsistence farming in the Centrl Division of Laikipia District. It attempted to determine the rainfall characteristics in terms of onset , quantity and duration during the short rain period of 1997. It also sought to determine the extent to which food crop farming activities and production were affected by the anomalous rainfall during that period.
The Central Division of Lakipia District lies on the leeward side of Mt Kenya making its climate semi-arid. The area is inhabited by small scale farmers (average acreage is 2 - 5 acres) who practice intnsive mixed farming. A random sample of 90 respondents and 15 purposively selected key informantswere interviewed through administration of questionairres. Data collected from the respondents was analysed using descriptive statistics where the means, percentages and frequencies of the statistics were considered. Student T-Test and Analysisof Variance were used to test the study hypotheses.
The study established that theren was significant variation of the 1997 rainfall characteristics from the mean average rainfall in the study area. The study showed that in the first quarter of 1997 the area received lower amount of rainfall than usual. This increased the rainy days to three times that of the normal. The effect of this was increased rainy days to three times that of the normal. The effects of these changes on food crop production was profound. The majority of farmers interviewed indicated that they had not finished preparing their farms when the rainfall started and as a result they planted their crops much later than just after the begining of the rainy season. The problems of water-logging of the farms, weed density and prolonged rainy days resulted in low yields of beans and potatoes.
Harvesting was also done while there was still too much rain thus the harvest was stored with high moisture content. Consequently, there was a high post-harvest loss especially of maize.
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made. Timely forecasting and dissemination of meteorological information in the area could mitigate the negative impacts of such anomalous rainfall. This is posssible however if only the farmers can adjust appropriately after the predictions are made. Further research on economic valuation of meteorological information is required to estalish the viability of cost sharing in weather forecasting. Agricultural extension services and intergration of community participation in management of government agricultural facilities are required in the study area for incresed food - crop production.