Beans farming guide — Kenya

Soil requirements, top counties, seed varieties, fertilizer plan & economics

Interested in starting or scaling beans farming in Kenya? This comprehensive guide maps out the optimal soil requirements (such as target pH ranges), the most suitable counties for growing beans, certified seed varieties, seasonal fertilizer guidelines, and a detailed per-acre production budget to set you up for a successful harvest.

Soil requirements

pH range
6–7
Nitrogen
low
Phosphorus
medium
Potassium
low
Preferred texture: Loam

Optimizing soil and fertilizers for Beans in Kenya

To achieve maximum yields when farming beans in Kenya, managing soil suitability is crucial. This crop performs best within a soil pH range of 6 to 7. Soils that fall outside this range can lock out essential macro and micro-nutrients, leading to stunted growth or crop failure. For acidic soils, applying dolomitic or calcitic agricultural lime is recommended at least 30 days before planting to normalize acidity.

Fertilizer application should be calibrated based on the crop’s nutrient demands. Beans has a low nitrogen requirement, medium phosphorus requirement, and low potassium demand. Using certified seed varieties suited for your specific altitude and rainfall pattern, combined with a precise basal and top-dressing program (such as applying None at None required), ensures high crop quality and protects your overall farm investment.

Best counties for Beans

Challenging counties for Beans

These counties may need soil amendments for Beans

Certified seed varieties

KAT B1Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 60-65 days · 8-10 bags/acre
Yellow bean; highly tolerant to drought and heat.
KAT X56Dryland
KALRO · 65-70 days · 10-12 bags/acre
Red mottled; resistant to bean common mosaic virus.
ChelalangMedium/Highland
KALRO · 75-80 days · 12-15 bags/acre
High yield; resistant to root rot and angular leaf spot.
NyotaDryland/Medium
KALRO · 65-70 days · 10-13 bags/acre
Navy bean type; iron-rich; KEPHIS certified; popular in export markets.
KAT B9Medium/Highland
KALRO · 70-75 days · 12-14 bags/acre
Bush bean; resistant to anthracnose and angular leaf spot; good grain quality.
KAT X69Dryland
KALRO · 60-65 days · 8-11 bags/acre
Small red bean; heat tolerant; suited to semi-arid lowland conditions.
Kenya Mali (KAT SW-12)Medium
KALRO · 70-75 days · 11-13 bags/acre
Speckled sugar bean; high market value; widely traded in Nairobi market chains.

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer (DAP)
Month 2
1st Weeding & Thinning
Month 3
Flowering Stage & Pest Control

Short Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
1st Weeding & Thinning
Month 3
Flowering Stage

Dry Season

Month 1
Post-Harvest Storage
Month 2
Land Resting
Month 3
Seed Selection

Economics

Market priceKES 120/kg
Expected yield700 kg/acre

Est. revenueKES 84,000/acre

Top dressing

Product: None
Timing: None required
Bags/acre: 0

Beans fix their own Nitrogen. Do NOT apply CAN — it will reduce yield.

Fertilizer prices

DAPKES 2,500
CANKES 2,500
NPK 17:17:17KES 2,500
UreaKES 2,500
LimeKES 1,500

Subsidized price / 50kg bag

Check your county for Beans