Growing Millet in Lamu

Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Lamu is well suited to Millet. Lamu's soil (pH 6.31, slightly acidic) gives Millet a suitability score of 92/100. Match fertilizer to Lamu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Lamu County is well suited to Millet, scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–8 band Millet prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.74 g/kg), phosphorus (9.6 mg/kg) and potassium (117 mg/kg) all meet Millet's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Millet, which favours sandy. At current prices (about KES 58/kg) and a typical 700 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Millet crop here can gross roughly KES 40,600 per acre.

92Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorLamu soilMillet needsStatus
pH6.3158OK
Nitrogen0.74 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus9.6 mg/kgmin 6 mg/kgOK
Potassium117 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall600 mm250–700 mmOK
Altitude10 m0–1,800 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3-4 after germination
Instruction
One light application at vegetative stage. Millet is low-input — do not over-apply.
Bags per Acre
0.3

Recommended seed varieties

Katumani MilletDryland
KALRO · 75-90 days · 6-8 bags/acre
Early maturing; highly drought tolerant; good grain quality.
EMBU CompositeMedium
KALRO · 85-100 days · 8-10 bags/acre
Higher yielding; suited to medium altitude rainfall areas.

Economics

Market priceKES 58/kg
Expected yield 700 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 40,600/acre

Preferred textureSandy

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
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