Growing Cashew Nuts in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Mombasa County is well suited to Cashew Nuts, scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-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 0.95 g/kg, P 8.4 mg/kg, K 136 mg/kg against this crop's low/low/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy 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.

92Suitability score

Soil match analysis

NutrientMombasa soilCashew Nuts needsStatus
pH6.2457.5OK
Nitrogen0.95 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus8.4 mg/kgmin 6 mg/kgOK
Potassium136 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgLow

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