Growing Passion Fruit in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
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. At current prices (about KES 70/kg) and a typical 4,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Passion Fruit crop here can gross roughly KES 315,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | West Pokot soil | Passion Fruit needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.04 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.67 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 24.8 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 211 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Every 2 months during rains
Instruction
Apply to support continuous vine extension and fruiting. Add MOP.
Bags per Acre
0.5
Recommended seed varieties
Purple PassionMedium/Highland
KALRO · 365-548 days · 50-80 bags/acre
Purple fruited; high juice content; good local and export market.
Yellow PassionMedium/Highland
KALRO · 270-365 days · 60-90 bags/acre
Yellow fruited; more vigorous; tolerant to fusarium wilt.
Economics
Market priceKES 70/kg
Expected yield4,500 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 315,000/acre
Preferred textureLoam
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