Growing Chilies in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — West Pokot is moderately suited to Chilies. West Pokot's soil (pH 6.04, slightly acidic) gives Chilies a suitability score of 55/100. Match fertilizer to West Pokot's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Chilies can be grown in West Pokot County, but the soil scores 55/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Chilies prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Chilies's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Chilies, which favours sandy loam. At 1500 m, the county sits above Chilies's preferred altitude ceiling of 1200 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Chilies is the #98 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for West Pokot County. Chilies's full potential is about 2,500 kg/acre (~KES 412,500/acre at KES 165/kg), but at West Pokot's 55/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 1,719 kg/acre (~KES 283,635/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 | Chilies needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.04 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.67 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 24.8 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 211 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 500–1,200 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 0–1,200 m | High |
Top dressing guide
West Pokot's nitrogen (1.67 g/kg) already meets Chilies's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for West Pokot
Varieties suited to West Pokot's 1,500 m altitude and 1,000 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 2 chilies varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag