Growing Passion Fruit in West Pokot

Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — West Pokot is well suited to Passion Fruit. West Pokot's soil (pH 6.04, slightly acidic) gives Passion Fruit a suitability score of 89/100. Match fertilizer to West Pokot's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

West Pokot County is well suited to Passion Fruit, scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Passion Fruit prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Passion Fruit's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Passion Fruit, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Passion Fruit is the #42 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for West Pokot County. At current prices (about KES 70/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Passion Fruit crop here can gross roughly KES 560,000 per acre.

89Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorWest Pokot soilPassion Fruit needsStatus
pH6.045.57.5OK
Nitrogen1.67 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus24.8 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium211 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,000 mm900–1,800 mmOK
Altitude1,500 m1,200–2,500 mOK

Planting calendar for West Pokot

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Trellis Training & Basal Fertilizer
May
Weed Control & Foliar Feed
June
Flowering & Fruit Set

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Top Dressing & Pest Control
November
Fruit Development
December
Harvesting

Dry Season· FebruaryApril

February
Irrigation & Mulching
March
Fusarium & Virus Scouting
April
Pruning & Replanting

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Start of rains biannual
Instruction
Apply in a ring around the drip line. Split into 2 applications per year.
Bags per acre in West Pokot
0.5

West Pokot's nitrogen (1.67 g/kg) already meets Passion Fruit's 1.2 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 passion fruit varieties we list.

Purple PassionMedium/Highland
KALRO · 365-548 days · 4.5–7.2 tons/acre
Purple fruited; high juice content; good local and export market.
Yellow PassionMedium/Highland
KALRO · 270-365 days · 5.4–8.1 tons/acre
Yellow fruited; more vigorous; tolerant to fusarium wilt.

Economics

Market priceKES 70/kg
Expected yield 8,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 560,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag