ShambaIQ

ShambaIQ Advisory

Agricultural & soil consultancy in Kenya

Independent advice on the decisions that are expensive to get wrong: whether a piece of land suits the crop you have in mind, what your soil is actually short of, and how to prove environmental impact. Soil science and agronomy, combined with spatial analysis of the farm rather than one average figure for all of it.

Credentials

MSc agricultural environmental engineering

University of Debrecen, Hungary

Geostatistical soil mapping

493-sample thesis: kriging, IDW, Gaussian simulation

EASA licensed drone pilot

European Union Aviation Safety Agency

Founder, ShambaIQ

Soil intelligence for all 47 Kenyan counties

Full background, thesis and technical skills on the about page.

What I am hired for

Land suitability & site selection

Before you buy land or commit to a perennial crop.

An assessment of whether a specific piece of land actually suits the crop you have in mind — soil chemistry and texture, pH, altitude, rainfall and the agro-ecological zone. Most useful for perennials such as macadamia, avocado, coffee and mango, where a wrong decision is not a season lost but three to seven years.

Soil fertility assessment & nutrient plans

What your soil is short of, and exactly what to apply.

A read of pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon and texture for the farm, turned into a fertilizer plan in bags per acre with costs in Kenya shillings. For larger holdings this is done block by block rather than as a single farm average, so inputs go where they are actually needed.

Soil sampling design & lab interpretation

Sample the right way, then understand the result.

Many farms pay for laboratory analysis and then cannot act on it, or sample so poorly that the result never represented the field. I design the sampling plan — where, how deep, how many composites — and translate the returned laboratory figures into an agronomic decision.

Environmental impact assessment & monitoring

For projects that need documented environmental evidence.

Baseline data collection, soil and water quality monitoring, heavy-metal and contamination assessment, and mitigation planning. Trained in both Kenyan NEMA frameworks and EU environmental assessment directives.

Soil & land mapping (GIS and satellite)

Spatial variation across a farm, not one number for all of it.

Geostatistical mapping of soil properties using interpolation and simulation methods, satellite-derived land cover and vegetation analysis, and interactive dashboards where a client needs to explore the results themselves rather than read a static report.

Drone survey & aerial mapping

EASA licensed pilot.

Aerial survey for farm boundary mapping, terrain and drainage assessment, and high-resolution crop imagery, where the site and regulations allow.

How it works

  1. 1

    Tell me what you are deciding

    A short conversation about the land, the crop or the project, and what you actually need to know. No charge for this.

  2. 2

    You get a scope and a quote

    What will be delivered, how, and what it costs, agreed in writing before any work starts.

  3. 3

    The work is done

    Remotely from data where possible — land suitability, mapping, sampling design, laboratory interpretation. On site, or through a local partner, where physical survey is required.

  4. 4

    You receive something you can act on

    A written report with the reasoning shown, not just a conclusion, so your agronomist or your team can check the work.

Who this is for

Commercial farms and estatesInvestors buying agricultural landCooperatives and out-grower schemesAgribusiness and input companiesNGOs and donor programmesCounty agriculture offices

ShambaIQ stays free for farmers

The ShambaIQ soil and fertilizer tool is free for every Kenyan smallholder and will remain so — no unlock fee, no per-report charge, nothing paywalled. Consultancy work is for organisations and commercial growers who need something the free tool does not do, and it is part of what pays to keep the tool free.

Frequently asked questions

What does an agricultural consultant in Kenya do?+
An agricultural consultant advises on decisions that are expensive to get wrong: whether land suits a particular crop, what a soil is actually short of, how much fertilizer to apply and where, and how to document environmental impact for a project. The work combines soil science, agronomy and, increasingly, spatial analysis of the farm rather than a single average figure for the whole property.
Can you assess whether my land suits macadamia, avocado or coffee?+
Yes. This is the most common request, and the most valuable one to get right. Perennial crops tie up land for years before the first real harvest, so the assessment looks at soil pH and nutrients, texture and drainage, altitude, rainfall and the agro-ecological zone, and states plainly whether the land suits the crop, suits it with correction, or does not suit it at all.
Do you carry out environmental impact assessment (EIA)?+
Yes, including baseline data collection, soil and water quality monitoring, contamination and heavy-metal assessment, and mitigation planning. The training covers both Kenyan NEMA frameworks and EU environmental assessment directives.
Do you work remotely or visit the farm?+
Both, depending on the work. Land suitability, soil and satellite mapping, sampling design and laboratory interpretation are delivered remotely from data. Physical sampling, field survey and drone work are arranged on site or through a local partner. Say what you need and the approach is agreed before any work starts.
How is this different from the free ShambaIQ tool?+
The free tool gives any farmer a soil and fertilizer plan for their location from satellite soil mapping, at no cost, and it stays that way. Consultancy is for organisations and commercial growers who need something the tool does not do: a specific piece of land assessed in depth, physical sampling designed and interpreted, block-level variation mapped, or a formal environmental report. Consulting work is part of what funds the free tool.
How much does soil and agricultural consultancy cost in Kenya?+
It depends entirely on scope — the size of the land, whether field visits and laboratory analysis are required, and what the deliverable is. Describe the work and you will receive a quote before anything begins. There is no charge for an initial conversation about whether the work is worth doing at all.

Describe the work

Tell me the land, the crop or the project and what you need to know. You will get an honest answer on whether the work is worth doing, and a quote before anything starts.

info@shambaiq.comWhatsAppContact form

Licensing the ShambaIQ platform rather than hiring an adviser? See partners.