Growing Cashew Nuts in Kwale
Soil suitability analysis based on Kwale's nutrient profile
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. 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.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | 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 |
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Biannual start of rains
Instruction
Apply in ring around drip line of established trees.
Bags per Acre
0.5
Recommended seed varieties
Giriama RedCoastal
KALRO · 1000-1500 days · 10-15 bags/acre
High nut recovery; suited to coast conditions; good kernel quality.
MurukuCoastal/Dryland
KALRO · 1000-1500 days · 8-12 bags/acre
Early bearing; good shell weight; tolerant to powdery mildew.
Economics
Market priceKES 275/kg
Expected yield900 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 247,500/acre
Preferred textureSandy
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag