Growing Taro (Nduma) in Busia
Soil suitability analysis based on Busia's nutrient profile
Busia County is well suited to Taro (Nduma), scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 5.29 the soil is moderately acidic, below Taro (Nduma)'s preferred 5.5–6.5 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. Nitrogen (0.91 g/kg), phosphorus (16.6 mg/kg) and potassium (175 mg/kg) all meet Taro (Nduma)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Taro (Nduma), which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Taro (Nduma) crop here can gross roughly KES 720,000 per acre.
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Busia soil | Taro (Nduma) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.29 | 5.5–6.5 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.91 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 16.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 175 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag