The coming of early rains have ushered in confusion among farmers and other actors, notably food retailers, fondly called “Buyam Sellams.”

Whereas farmers meditated on whether or not to start planting, the situation worsened with the appearance of harsh winds and strange weather conditions leading to the destruction of maturing crops and fruit trees.

The trouble is that farmers are unable to know if the agriculture season has effectively started or its simply an abnormality in the weather cycle. Climatologists have not made things easier for them. While some are encouraging farmers to plant, others are calling on them to hold on. This is quite disturbing indeed. Perhaps the other trouble concerns the impact the changed weather conditions is having on food crops both for the ones on market stands and for those still in the farms.  

As a result of poor weather conditions, food crops in the market are fast deteriorating. Semi-industrial structures which buy these crops and process them for marketing are not ready to step up their purchase. And so, the prices are feared to have taken a downward trend. Market women are finding no other solution than to dump them rather than completely lose both the crops and money. Actors are in effect, trapped in a situation where they are compelled by natural circumstances to sell the produce at lower prices now are resort to selling at higher prices in future considering that destroyed plants in the farms may not be able to produce as much as expected.

The question in every mind is how to solve a situation like this one. As usual, all eyes are turned towards the administration. From the look of things and considering that the production might be affected, authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture are compelled to bring up a solution. One of such will be to provide farmers with fertilizers and chemicals to fight any attacks by insects and fungi. This must be done on time enough to enable farmers equally apply them on time. From every indication, this sounds like a better domestic solution rather than quickly thinking of importing food in replacement of the shortage.