Growing Sweet Potato in Migori

Soil suitability analysis based on Migori's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Migori is well suited to Sweet Potato. Migori's soil (pH 5.43, strongly acidic) gives Sweet Potato a suitability score of 89/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.

Migori County is well suited to Sweet Potato, scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.43 — moderately acidic and inside the 4.5–7 band Sweet Potato prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 1.2 g/kg, P 12.2 mg/kg, K 169 mg/kg against this crop's low/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. Sweet Potato prefers sandy loam soils, while Migori is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sweet Potato is the #6 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Migori County. At current prices (about KES 18/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sweet Potato crop here can gross roughly KES 90,000 per acre.

89Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorMigori soilSweet Potato needsStatus
pH5.434.5–7OK
Nitrogen1.2 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus12.2 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium169 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,400 mm600–1,800 mmOK
Altitude1,300 m0–2,200 mOK

Planting calendar for Migori

Long Rains· March–MayMain season here

March
Vine Cutting Planting & Basal Fertilizer
April
Weeding & Vine Management
May
Harvesting & Storage

Short Rains· September–November

September
Vine Planting & Basal Fertilizer
October
Vine Trailing & Weeding
November
Harvesting

Dry Season· January–March

January
Irrigation & Vine Planting
February
Weeding
March
Harvesting & Vine Multiplication

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Sweet potatoes rarely need top dressing. Excess N promotes vines over tubers.
Bags per acre in Migori
0

Migori's nitrogen reads 1.2 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Sweet Potato is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.

Seed varieties for Migori

Varieties suited to Migori's 1,300 m altitude and 1,400 mm annual rainfall — 3 of 5 sweet potato varieties we list.

KabodeMedium/Dryland
CIP/KALRO · 120-150 days · 3–4 tons/acre
Orange-fleshed; high Vitamin A; drought tolerant.
Kenspot 5Medium/Highland
KALRO · 90-120 days · 4–5 tons/acre
Purple-skinned; excellent taste; good market demand.
VitamuMedium/Highland
KALRO · 120-150 days · 3.5–4.5 tons/acre
Orange-fleshed; dual purpose grain and fodder; KEPHIS certified; 1200-1800m; released 2015.

Economics

Market priceKES 18/kg
Expected yield 5,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 90,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy Loam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
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