Growing Sesame (Simsim) in Taita Taveta
Soil suitability analysis based on Taita Taveta's nutrient profile
Yes — Taita Taveta is well suited to Sesame (Simsim). Taita Taveta's soil (pH 6.64, near-neutral) gives Sesame (Simsim) a suitability score of 90/100. Match fertilizer to Taita Taveta's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Taita Taveta County is well suited to Sesame (Simsim), scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.64 — neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Sesame (Simsim) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.97 g/kg), phosphorus (12.9 mg/kg) and potassium (104 mg/kg) all meet Sesame (Simsim)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Sesame (Simsim) prefers sandy soils, while Taita Taveta is largely loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sesame (Simsim) is the #10 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Taita Taveta County. At current prices (about KES 350/kg) and a typical 250 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sesame (Simsim) crop here can gross roughly KES 87,500 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Taita Taveta soil | Sesame (Simsim) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.64 | 5.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.97 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 12.9 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 104 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 500 mm | 300–800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 700 m | 0–1,600 m | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag