Kenya

Area:

580 000 km2

 

Population:

41 million

 

Climate:

Kenya's climate varies from tropical along the coast to temperate inland to arid in the north and northeast parts of the country. The "long rains" season occurs from March/April to May/June. The "short rains" season occurs from October to November/December. The average annual rainfall is between 1000mm and 1250mm (less in drought years). Average temperatures vary little during the year, ranging from 22°C to 30°C. The temperature remains high throughout these months of tropical rain. The hottest period is February and March, leading into the season of the long rains and the coldest is in July and August.

Natural  Resources:

25% of the GDP is agriculture and 50% from the service sector.

Agriculture:

Both rain fed and irrigated. Major crops include: Maize, dried beans, Coffee, tea and sugarcane.  Livestock/dairy in high potential areas and pastoral in rangeland cattle.

Climate Vulnerabilities:

Increased temperatures with increased occurrence of severe event decreased food yields and decreased rainfall.

Source:

http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/kennc1.pdf

Terminologies:

Long rains: this is the main rainfall season in Kenya. Rainfall in Kenya is bimodal, that is, there are two rainy seasons. The main season rains referred to as long rains begin in March and last through May affecting the harvest of agricultural products in August through October.

Short rains: this is the secondary season which begins in October and lasts through December affecting the harvest in February.