Growing Taro (Nduma) in Kisumu

Soil suitability analysis based on Kisumu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Kisumu is well suited to Taro (Nduma). Kisumu's soil (pH 5.54, slightly acidic) gives Taro (Nduma) a suitability score of 88/100. Match fertilizer to Kisumu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kisumu County is well suited to Taro (Nduma), scoring 88/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.54 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–6.5 band Taro (Nduma) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.91 g/kg), phosphorus (12.5 mg/kg) and potassium (166 mg/kg) all meet Taro (Nduma)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Taro (Nduma) prefers loam soils, while Kisumu is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Taro (Nduma) is the #9 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kisumu County. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 7,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Taro (Nduma) crop here can gross roughly KES 630,000 per acre.

88Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKisumu soilTaro (Nduma) needsStatus
pH5.545.56.5OK
Nitrogen0.91 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus12.5 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium166 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,200 mm1,000–1,500 mmOK
Altitude1,150 m0–1,850 mOK

Recommended seed varieties

Nduma LocalMedium/Highland 0-1850m
KALRO · 270-365 days · 2.5–4 tons/acre
Traditional variety; good corm size; suited to wet/valley bottoms.

Economics

Market priceKES 90/kg
Expected yield 7,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 630,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

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