Pigeon Peas farming guide — Kenya

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

Interested in starting or scaling pigeon peas farming in Kenya? This comprehensive guide maps out the optimal soil requirements (such as target pH ranges), the most suitable counties for growing pigeon peas, 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
5–8
Nitrogen
low
Phosphorus
low
Potassium
low
Preferred texture: Sandy

Optimizing soil and fertilizers for Pigeon Peas in Kenya

To achieve maximum yields when farming pigeon peas in Kenya, managing soil suitability is crucial. This crop performs best within a soil pH range of 5 to 8. 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. Pigeon Peas has a low nitrogen requirement, low 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 Pigeon Peas

Challenging counties for Pigeon Peas

These counties may need soil amendments for Pigeon Peas

Certified seed varieties

ICEAP 00040Dryland
ICRISAT/KALRO · 150-180 days · 6-8 bags/acre
Early maturing; resistant to fusarium wilt.
KAT 60/8Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 120-150 days · 5-7 bags/acre
Short-duration; good for intercropping with maize.

Economics

Market priceKES 75/kg
Expected yield500 kg/acre

Est. revenueKES 37,500/acre

Top dressing

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

Pigeon peas fix atmospheric Nitrogen. No top dressing needed.

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 Pigeon Peas