Groundnuts farming guide — Kenya

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

Interested in starting or scaling groundnuts farming in Kenya? This comprehensive guide maps out the optimal soil requirements (such as target pH ranges), the most suitable counties for growing groundnuts, 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
5–7
Nitrogen
low
Phosphorus
medium
Potassium
medium
Preferred texture: Sandy

Optimizing soil and fertilizers for Groundnuts in Kenya

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

Challenging counties for Groundnuts

These counties may need soil amendments for Groundnuts

Certified seed varieties

ICGV-SM 99568Dryland/Medium
ICRISAT/KALRO · 90-100 days · 8-12 bags/acre
Rosette virus resistant; high oil content.
Red ValenciaDryland
Local/KALRO · 100-110 days · 6-10 bags/acre
Popular local market variety; good taste.

Economics

Market priceKES 90/kg
Expected yield400 kg/acre

Est. revenueKES 36,000/acre

Top dressing

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

Groundnuts fix their own Nitrogen. Apply gypsum at pegging for calcium.

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 Groundnuts