Growing Dragon Fruit in Kwale

Soil suitability analysis based on Kwale's nutrient profile

Kwale County is well suited to Dragon Fruit, scoring 82/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.76 — neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Dragon Fruit prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 0.93 g/kg, P 9.8 mg/kg, K 131 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Dragon Fruit, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 500/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Dragon Fruit crop here can gross roughly KES 2,500,000 per acre.

82Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKwale soilDragon Fruit needsStatus
pH6.765.57OK
Nitrogen0.93 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus9.8 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgLow
Potassium131 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgLow
Rainfall900 mm500–1,500 mmOK
Altitude200 m0–1,700 mOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Planting Cuttings & Trellis Setup
Month 2
Vegetative Growth & Weed Control
Month 3
Flower Initiation

Short Rains

Month 1
Flowering & Night Pollination
Month 2
Fruit Development
Month 3
Harvesting

Economics

Market priceKES 500/kg
Expected yield 5,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 2,500,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy Loam

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