Growing Cashew Nuts in Kwale
Soil suitability analysis based on Kwale's nutrient profile
Yes — Kwale is well suited to Cashew Nuts. Kwale's soil (pH 6.76, near-neutral) gives Cashew Nuts a suitability score of 88/100. Match fertilizer to Kwale's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Kwale County is well suited to Cashew Nuts, scoring 88/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.76 — 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 0.93 g/kg, P 9.8 mg/kg, K 131 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 #10 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kwale 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 | Kwale soil | Cashew Nuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.76 | 5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.93 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 9.8 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 131 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 900 mm | 600–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 200 m | 0–500 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Kwale
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· November–January
Dry Season· February–April
Top dressing guide
Kwale's nitrogen (0.93 g/kg) already meets Cashew Nuts's 0.5 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for Kwale
Varieties suited to Kwale's 200 m altitude and 900 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 2 cashew nuts varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag