Growing Rice (Upland) in Kisumu

Soil suitability analysis based on Kisumu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Kisumu is well suited to Rice (Upland). Kisumu's soil (pH 5.54, slightly acidic) gives Rice (Upland) a suitability score of 84/100. Match fertilizer to Kisumu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kisumu County is well suited to Rice (Upland), scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.54 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7 band Rice (Upland) prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen — measured at N 0.91 g/kg, P 12.5 mg/kg, K 166 mg/kg against this crop's high/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly clay soils suit Rice (Upland), which favours clay. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Rice (Upland) is the #14 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kisumu County. At current prices (about KES 105/kg) and a typical 1,800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Rice (Upland) crop here can gross roughly KES 189,000 per acre.

84Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKisumu soilRice (Upland) needsStatus
pH5.5457OK
Nitrogen0.91 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgLow
Phosphorus12.5 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium166 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,200 mm800–2,000 mmOK
Altitude1,150 m0–1,300 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
Urea
Timing
Tillering and panicle initiation
Instruction
Split into 2 applications. Flooding helps N uptake.
Bags per Acre
1

Recommended seed varieties

NERICA 1Medium
WARDA/KALRO · 90-100 days · 15-20 bags/acre
Upland adapted; drought tolerant; good grain quality.
NERICA 10Medium/Dryland
WARDA/KALRO · 100-110 days · 12-18 bags/acre
Resistant to blast; good milling quality.

Economics

Market priceKES 105/kg
Expected yield 1,800 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 189,000/acre

Preferred textureClay

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
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