Growing Chilies in Lamu

Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile

Lamu County is well suited to Chilies, scoring 82/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Chilies prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.74 g/kg, P 9.6 mg/kg, K 117 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Chilies, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 165/kg) and a typical 1,800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Chilies crop here can gross roughly KES 297,000 per acre.

82Suitability score

Soil match analysis

NutrientLamu soilChilies needsStatus
pH6.3167.5OK
Nitrogen0.74 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgLow
Phosphorus9.6 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgLow
Potassium117 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgLow

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Every 4 weeks during harvest
Instruction
Apply nitrogen to support continuous leaf and pepper setting.
Bags per Acre
0.5

Recommended seed varieties

Pilipili KichaaDryland/Medium
Local/KALRO · 90-120 days · 20-30 bags/acre
Very pungent; high market demand; drought tolerant.
Cayenne LongMedium
Simlaw Seeds · 80-100 days · 25-35 bags/acre
High yield; good for drying and fresh market.

Economics

Market priceKES 165/kg
Expected yield1,800 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 297,000/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