Growing Sunflower in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
West Pokot County is well suited to Sunflower, scoring 75/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Sunflower prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Sunflower's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Sunflower, which favours sandy. At current prices (about KES 48/kg) and a typical 750 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sunflower crop here can gross roughly KES 36,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | West Pokot soil | Sunflower needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.04 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.67 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 24.8 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 211 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 400–800 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 0–2,000 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & Weed Control
Month 3
Head Development & Bird Protection
Short Rains
Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & 1st Weeding
Month 3
Harvesting & Drying
Dry Season
Month 1
Harvesting & Threshing
Month 2
Land Resting
Month 3
Seed Selection & Storage
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4–5 after emergence
Instruction
Apply at vegetative stage before flower bud initiation.
Bags per Acre
0.5
Recommended seed varieties
Kenya FedhaMedium/Dryland
Kenya Seed Company · 90-110 days · 8-12 bags/acre
High oil content (40-45%); resistant to downy mildew.
H8998Medium
Pannar Seeds · 85-100 days · 10-14 bags/acre
Hybrid; very high oil yield; uniform heads.
Economics
Market priceKES 48/kg
Expected yield in West Pokot703 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 33,744/acre
Adjusted for West Pokot's 75/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Sunflower can reach 750 kg/acre (~KES 36,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.
Preferred textureSandy
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
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