Rainfall

Low and erratic rainfall, high temperatures, and poor soils of low fertility and fragile/weak physical structures characterize eighty percent of the region. Below is rainfall data for the four regions of Ukambani.

Agricultural activities and Farming

The target beneficiaries practise mixed farming on subsistence basis. Growing of crops is by large dominated by the maize syndrome despite its frequent frustrations to the farmers. Livestock production is as well key in the region. Historically, the livestock sector is characterized by low intensity of land use and low quality of cattle both contributing to low output per unit of land.

Land degradation through soil erosion and human agro-activity is one of the most critical problems facing Ukamba region

Run-offs and erosion losses are high, leading to poor crop stands and low yields in most of the farms. Seasonal crop failures are frequent. After every two years of harvest, they are followed by about three to five years of crop failure.

Economic activities:-
Though the area has low rainfall, small- scale businesses have been established to sustain the needs. Some of the small enterprise ventures include sale of cereals, sand harvesting
charcoal burning and selling of livestock

Mwingi

The district borders Kitui District to the south and Machakos to the West, Mbeere and Meru District to and north and Tana River District to the east. The district lies between latitude 0º 03º and 1º 12' south and longitudes 37º 47' degrees 38º 57'. The district covers an area of 10,030.30km². The Average annual temperatures is 24º C. The district has 2 rainy seasons i.e March – May (Long rains) and October – December (short rains). Rainfall ranges between 400mm and 800mm but it is erratic. The short rains are more reliable.

The district has a population of 303,828 (1999 Population census) and is projected to rise to 377,081 people in 2008 (2.4 percent growth rate). It has an average population density of 30 persons per Km². More than 95 percent of this is rural based while 5 per cent is the urban population of which, Mwingi Town has 4 per cent while the rest is distributed in other trading centres.

Kitui

The district is in the southern part of Kenya . It borders Machakos and Makueni Districts to the West, Mwingi to the north and Tana River District to the east. The district is located between longitudes 37º 45' degrees 38º 57' and 39º 0º ast latitudes and 0º 3.7' and 3º 0' south. The district covers an area of approximately 20,402km² including 6,902 Km² occupied by the uninhabited Tsavo National Park . The Minimum mean annual temperatures is 28º C in the western parts and 22º C in the eastern parts. Maximum mean annual temperatures on the other hand are 28º C in the western parts and 32º C in the eastern. The district has 2 rainy seasons i.e March – May (Long rains) and October – December (short rains). Rainfall ranges between 500mm and 1050mm with a 40 per cent reliability. The short rains are more reliable

Makueni

The district lies between latitude 1º 35º and longitudes 37º 10' easts 37º 10' and 38º 30'east The district covers an area of approximately 7,965.8km² out of which 474.1Km² form the Tsavo West National Park. The Minimum mean annual temperatures is 22.1º C The district has 2 rainy seasons i.e March – May (Long rains) and October – December (short rains). Rainfall ranges between 800mm and 1200mm with a 40 per cent reliability.

The district has a population of 771,545 (1999 Population census) and is projected to rise to 839,155 people in 2002. It has an average population density of 400 persons per Km².

Machakos

The district borders Nairobi city and Thika District to the northwest, Kitui and Mwingi Districts to the east, Kajiado District to the West, Makueni District to t he south, Maragwa district to the north and Mbeere District to the northeast. It stretches from latitudes 0º 45' south to 1º 31' south and longitudes 36º 45' east to 37º 45'east. The district covers an area of approximately 6,281km² most of which is semi-arid. High and medium potential areas where rain fed agricultures is carried out consists of 1,574 Km². The mean monthly temperatures range from 12º C in the coldest months (July – August) to 25º C in the hottest months (March and October). The district has 2 rainy seasons i.e March – May (Long rains) and October – December (short rains). Rainfall ranges between 500mm and 1300mm with high altitude areas receiving more rain than low-lying areas. The rainfall is also unreliable and varies from year to year.