Growing Taro (Nduma) in Vihiga
Soil suitability analysis based on Vihiga's nutrient profile
Yes — Vihiga is well suited to Taro (Nduma). Vihiga's soil (pH 5.62, slightly acidic) gives Taro (Nduma) a suitability score of 81/100. Match fertilizer to Vihiga's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Vihiga County is well suited to Taro (Nduma), scoring 81/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.62 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–6.5 band Taro (Nduma) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.02 g/kg), phosphorus (14.8 mg/kg) and potassium (164 mg/kg) all meet Taro (Nduma)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Taro (Nduma), which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Taro (Nduma) is the #14 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Vihiga County. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 7,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Taro (Nduma) crop here can gross roughly KES 630,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Vihiga soil | Taro (Nduma) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.62 | 5.5–6.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.02 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 14.8 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 164 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,800 mm | 1,000–1,500 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,700 m | 0–1,850 m | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag