Growing Okra in Baringo

Soil suitability analysis based on Baringo's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Baringo is well suited to Okra. Baringo's soil (pH 6.22, slightly acidic) gives Okra a suitability score of 89/100. Match fertilizer to Baringo's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Baringo County is well suited to Okra, scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.22 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Okra prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.32 g/kg), phosphorus (23.4 mg/kg) and potassium (212 mg/kg) all meet Okra's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Okra, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Okra is the #40 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Baringo County. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Okra crop here can gross roughly KES 300,000 per acre.

89Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorBaringo soilOkra needsStatus
pH6.2267.5OK
Nitrogen1.32 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus23.4 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium212 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall700 mm500–1,200 mmOK
Altitude900 m0–1,300 mOK

Planting calendar for Baringo

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Direct Sowing & Basal
May
Top Dressing & Pest Control
June
Continuous Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Direct Sowing & Basal
November
Top Dressing
December
Continuous Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3 and 6
Instruction
Top-dress lightly — excess nitrogen delays pod set.
Bags per acre in Baringo
0.50.4

Baringo's nitrogen (1.32 g/kg) already meets Okra's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield 5,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 300,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag