Growing Cashew Nuts in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — West Pokot is poorly suited to Cashew Nuts. West Pokot's soil (pH 6.04, slightly acidic) gives Cashew Nuts a suitability score of 10/100. Match fertilizer to West Pokot's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
West Pokot County is a challenging environment for Cashew Nuts (soil-match score 10/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7.5 band Cashew Nuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Cashew Nuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Cashew Nuts, which favours sandy. At 1500 m, the county sits above Cashew Nuts's preferred altitude ceiling of 500 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cashew Nuts is the #105 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for West Pokot County. Cashew Nuts's full potential is about 900 kg/acre (~KES 247,500/acre at KES 275/kg), but at West Pokot's 10/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 113 kg/acre (~KES 31,075/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Better matched to West Pokot's soil: Kale (Sukuma Wiki), Finger Millet, and Groundnuts — each scores higher on the same soil.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | West Pokot soil | Cashew Nuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.04 | 5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.67 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 24.8 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 211 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 600–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 0–500 m | High |
Planting calendar for West Pokot
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· October–December
Dry Season· February–April
Top dressing guide
West Pokot's nitrogen (1.67 g/kg) already meets Cashew Nuts's 0.5 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Recommended seed varieties
No variety in our list is specifically rated for West Pokot's 1,500 m altitude and 1,000 mm rainfall, so all 2 are shown. Confirm with your agrovet before buying.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag