Growing Aloe Vera in Garissa
Soil suitability analysis based on Garissa's nutrient profile
Garissa County is well suited to Aloe Vera, scoring 77/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.96 — alkaline and inside the 6–8 band Aloe Vera prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.61 g/kg), phosphorus (37.7 mg/kg) and potassium (407 mg/kg) all meet Aloe Vera's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Aloe Vera, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 40/kg) and a typical 12,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Aloe Vera crop here can gross roughly KES 480,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Garissa soil | Aloe Vera needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.96 | 6–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.61 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 37.7 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 407 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 250 mm | 250–700 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 200 m | 0–2,000 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Sucker Planting & Basal
Month 2
Weeding
Month 3
Leaf Harvest
Short Rains
Month 1
Sucker Planting & Basal
Month 2
Weeding
Month 3
Leaf Harvest
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Twice per year
Instruction
Succulent — very light feeding. Good drainage matters more than fertilizer.
Bags per Acre
0.2
Economics
Market priceKES 40/kg
Expected yield in Garissa11,550 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 462,000/acre
Adjusted for Garissa's 77/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Aloe Vera can reach 12,000 kg/acre (~KES 480,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.
Preferred textureSandy Loam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
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