Cassava farming guide — Kenya

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

Interested in starting or scaling cassava farming in Kenya? This comprehensive guide maps out the optimal soil requirements (such as target pH ranges), the most suitable counties for growing cassava, 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
4.5–7
Nitrogen
low
Phosphorus
low
Potassium
medium
Preferred texture: Sandy

Optimizing soil and fertilizers for Cassava in Kenya

To achieve maximum yields when farming cassava in Kenya, managing soil suitability is crucial. This crop performs best within a soil pH range of 4.5 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. Cassava has a low nitrogen requirement, low phosphorus requirement, and medium 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 Cassava

Challenging counties for Cassava

These counties may need soil amendments for Cassava

Certified seed varieties

TajirikaCoastal/Dryland
KALRO · 300-365 days · 4–6 tons/acre
High yielding; tolerant to cassava mosaic disease.
ShibeCoastal/Medium
KALRO · 270-330 days · 3–5 tons/acre
Sweet variety; low cyanide content; good for table use.

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Stem Cutting Planting
Month 2
Weeding & Pest Monitoring
Month 3
Growth Monitoring

Short Rains

Month 1
Weeding & Mound Formation
Month 2
Pest & Disease Scouting
Month 3
Growth Monitoring

Dry Season

Month 1
Harvesting (12+ months from planting)
Month 2
Processing & Storage
Month 3
Land Preparation for next crop

Economics

Market priceKES 15/kg
Expected yield4,000 kg/acre

Est. revenueKES 60,000/acre

Top dressing

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

Cassava is low-input. Excessive N causes leafy growth at expense of tubers.

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 Cassava