Growing Pawpaw in West Pokot

Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile

West Pokot County is a solid choice for Pawpaw, with a soil-match score of 64/100. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Pawpaw prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Pawpaw's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Pawpaw, which favours sandy loam. At 1500 m, the county sits above Pawpaw's preferred altitude ceiling of 1200 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. At current prices (about KES 28/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Pawpaw crop here can gross roughly KES 280,000 per acre.