Growing Sesame (Simsim) in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
West Pokot County is well suited to Sesame (Simsim), scoring 81/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Sesame (Simsim) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Sesame (Simsim)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Sesame (Simsim), which favours sandy. At current prices (about KES 350/kg) and a typical 180 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sesame (Simsim) crop here can gross roughly KES 63,000 per acre.
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | West Pokot soil | Sesame (Simsim) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.04 | 5.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.67 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 24.8 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 211 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag