Growing Sweet Potato in Kakamega
Soil suitability analysis based on Kakamega's nutrient profile
Yes — Kakamega is well suited to Sweet Potato. Kakamega's soil (pH 5.63, slightly acidic) gives Sweet Potato a suitability score of 88/100. Match fertilizer to Kakamega's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Kakamega County is well suited to Sweet Potato, scoring 88/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.63 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 4.5–7 band Sweet Potato prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 1.01 g/kg, P 14 mg/kg, K 147 mg/kg against this crop's low/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. Sweet Potato prefers sandy loam soils, while Kakamega is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sweet Potato is the #3 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kakamega County. At current prices (about KES 18/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sweet Potato crop here can gross roughly KES 90,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kakamega soil | Sweet Potato needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.63 | 4.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.01 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 14 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 147 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,900 mm | 600–1,800 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 0–2,200 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Kakamega
Long Rains· March–MayMain season here
Short Rains· August–October
Dry Season· January–March
Top dressing guide
Kakamega's nitrogen reads 1.01 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Sweet Potato is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Kakamega
Varieties suited to Kakamega's 1,500 m altitude and 1,900 mm annual rainfall — 3 of 5 sweet potato varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag