Growing Tomato in Baringo

Soil suitability analysis based on Baringo's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Baringo is well suited to Tomato. Baringo's soil (pH 6.22, slightly acidic) gives Tomato a suitability score of 90/100. Match fertilizer to Baringo's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Baringo County is well suited to Tomato, scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.22 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7 band Tomato prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.32 g/kg), phosphorus (23.4 mg/kg) and potassium (212 mg/kg) all meet Tomato's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Tomato, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Tomato is the #30 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Baringo County. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 15,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Tomato crop here can gross roughly KES 750,000 per acre.

90Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorBaringo soilTomato needsStatus
pH6.2267OK
Nitrogen1.32 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus23.4 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium212 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall700 mm600–1,400 mmOK
Altitude900 m0–1,800 mOK

Planting calendar for Baringo

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Nursery Preparation & Transplanting
May
Top Dressing & Staking & Pest Control
June
Harvesting & Disease Management

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal Fertilizer
November
Staking & Top Dressing & Pest Control
December
Harvesting

Dry Season· FebruaryApril

February
Land Preparation & Irrigation Setup
March
Nursery (irrigated)
April
Transplanting & Basal Fertilizer

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3, 6, and 9
Instruction
Split into 3 applications. Add foliar potassium at fruiting stage.
Bags per acre in Baringo
0.5

Baringo's nitrogen (1.32 g/kg) already meets Tomato's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Recommended seed varieties

No variety in our list is specifically rated for Baringo's 900 m altitude and 700 mm rainfall, so all 2 are shown. Confirm with your agrovet before buying.

Rambo F1Medium/Highland
Royal Seeds · 75-80 days · 6–7.2 tons/acre
Determinate hybrid; excellent disease tolerance.
Money MakerMedium/Highland
Simlaw Seeds · 80-90 days · 4–4.8 tons/acre
Reliable open-pollinated variety.

Economics

Market priceKES 50/kg
Expected yield 15,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 750,000/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