Growing Groundnuts in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
West Pokot County is well suited to Groundnuts, scoring 94/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7 band Groundnuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Groundnuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Groundnuts, which favours sandy. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 400 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Groundnuts crop here can gross roughly KES 36,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | West Pokot soil | Groundnuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.04 | 5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.67 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 24.8 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 211 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
Top dressing guide
Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Groundnuts fix their own Nitrogen. Apply gypsum at pegging for calcium.
Bags per Acre
0
Recommended seed varieties
ICGV-SM 99568Dryland/Medium
ICRISAT/KALRO · 90-100 days · 8-12 bags/acre
Rosette virus resistant; high oil content.
Red ValenciaDryland
Local/KALRO · 100-110 days · 6-10 bags/acre
Popular local market variety; good taste.
Economics
Market priceKES 90/kg
Expected yield400 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 36,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag