Introduction:
Tharaka Nithi County is categorized as an Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) in Kenya. The County presents a diverse landscape characterized by stark contrasts: rugged, drought-prone lowlands dominate approximately 70% of its territory, while the remaining 30% comprises fertile highlands (Tharaka Nithi County Integrated Development Plan, 2023-2027). This topographical variety creates distinct agricultural zones, with the eastern lowlands featuring thorny bushland and scattered acacia trees typical of semi-arid ecosystems, while the western highlands near Mt. Kenya showcase lush vegetation and year-round streams. The County's elevation ranges from 600 meters above sea level in Tharaka to over 2,500 meters in the highlands (Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2022), creating microclimates that influence farming possibilities across different regions.
Climate change has significantly altered traditional rainfall patterns in Kenya and East Africa at large. In Tharaka Nithi County, the long rain season traditionally began around the 15th of March, but climate change effects have disrupted this predictability, threatening agricultural productivity and food security for thousands of households. Each year, approximately 65,000 farming families face food insecurity due to these erratic weather patterns (Kenya Food Security Steering Group, 2023), leaving them vulnerable to malnutrition and economic hardship as crop yields diminish and traditional planting calendars become unreliable.
The County Government of Tharaka Nithi, led by the Governor, H.E. Muthomi Njuki, EGH, through the Department of Agriculture, designed a biannual seed distribution program to combat these challenges. This initiative focuses on supporting vulnerable farmers who are often the first victims of changing rainfall patterns, aiming to enhance food security and build agricultural resilience across the County.
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