Growing Taro (Nduma) in Mombasa
Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile
Mombasa County is well suited to Taro (Nduma), scoring 86/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–6.5 band Taro (Nduma) prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 0.95 g/kg, P 8.4 mg/kg, K 136 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Taro (Nduma) prefers loam soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Taro (Nduma) crop here can gross roughly KES 720,000 per acre.
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Mombasa soil | Taro (Nduma) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 5.5–6.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.95 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 8.4 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 136 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag