Growing Chilies in Kajiado

Soil suitability analysis based on Kajiado's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Kajiado is well suited to Chilies. Kajiado's soil (pH 6.55, near-neutral) gives Chilies a suitability score of 79/100. Match fertilizer to Kajiado's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kajiado County is well suited to Chilies, scoring 79/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.55 — neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Chilies prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.97 g/kg), phosphorus (20.6 mg/kg) and potassium (257 mg/kg) all meet Chilies's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Chilies, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 165/kg) and a typical 2,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Chilies crop here can gross roughly KES 412,500 per acre.

79Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKajiado soilChilies needsStatus
pH6.5567.5OK
Nitrogen0.97 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus20.6 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium257 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall500 mm500–1,200 mmOK
Altitude1,300 m0–1,200 mHigh

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3-4 after transplanting
Instruction
Apply when plants are established. Chilies respond well to split nitrogen applications.
Bags per Acre
0.5

Recommended seed varieties

Pilipili KichaaDryland/Medium
Local/KALRO · 90-120 days · 1000–1500 kg/acre
Very pungent; high market demand; drought tolerant.
Cayenne LongMedium
Simlaw Seeds · 80-100 days · 1250–1750 kg/acre
High yield; good for drying and fresh market.

Economics

Market priceKES 165/kg
Expected yield in Kajiado2,469 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 407,385/acre
Adjusted for Kajiado's 79/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Chilies can reach 2,500 kg/acre (~KES 412,500/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