Growing Cashew Nuts in Kilifi
Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile
Yes — Kilifi is well suited to Cashew Nuts. Kilifi's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Cashew Nuts a suitability score of 90/100. Match fertilizer to Kilifi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Kilifi County is well suited to Cashew Nuts, scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7.5 band Cashew Nuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 0.8 g/kg, P 11 mg/kg, K 109 mg/kg against this crop's low/low/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Cashew Nuts, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cashew Nuts is the #7 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kilifi County. At current prices (about KES 275/kg) and a typical 900 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cashew Nuts crop here can gross roughly KES 247,500 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kilifi soil | Cashew Nuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.8 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 11 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 109 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 700 mm | 600–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 150 m | 0–500 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Kilifi
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· November–January
Dry Season· February–April
Top dressing guide
Kilifi's nitrogen (0.8 g/kg) already meets Cashew Nuts's 0.5 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for Kilifi
Varieties suited to Kilifi's 150 m altitude and 700 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 2 cashew nuts varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag