Growing Beans in Baringo
Soil suitability analysis based on Baringo's nutrient profile
Baringo County is well suited to Beans, scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.22 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7 band Beans prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.32 g/kg), phosphorus (23.4 mg/kg) and potassium (212 mg/kg) all meet Beans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Beans, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 120/kg) and a typical 700 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Beans crop here can gross roughly KES 84,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Baringo soil | Beans needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.22 | 6–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.32 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 23.4 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 212 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
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
Top dressing guide
Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Beans fix their own Nitrogen. Do NOT apply CAN — it will reduce yield.
Bags per Acre
0
Recommended 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.
Economics
Market priceKES 120/kg
Expected yield700 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 84,000/acre
Preferred textureLoam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag