What to Farm in Busia County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Busia ranks 3rd for pigs and 4th for sweet potatoes among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Busia Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Sweet potatoes
59,325 tonnes
4th of 42 counties
3,938 ha · 15.1 t per ha · 8.9% of Kenya
Finger millet
2,701 tonnes
7th of 27 counties
3,334 ha · 0.8 t per ha · 6.9% of Kenya
Sorghum
7,710 tonnes
7th of 41 counties
5,392 ha · 1.4 t per ha · 3.9% of Kenya
Indigenous chicken
1.7 million birds
8th of 47 counties
3.2% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Busia with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Busia: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Busia.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarcane | 22,337 | 40,770 t sugar | Not given | 5th of 13 | 9.1% |
| Cotton | Not given | 301 bales of lint | Not given | 5th of 21 | 4.3% |
| Coffee | Not given | 33 t clean coffee | Not given | 25th of 32 | <0.1% |
| Sweet potatoes | 3,938 | 59,325 t | 15.1 | 4th of 42 | 8.9% |
| Sorghum | 5,392 | 7,710 t | 1.4 | 7th of 41 | 3.9% |
| Finger millet | 3,334 | 2,701 t | 0.8 | 7th of 27 | 6.9% |
| Cowpeas | 558 | 411 t | 0.7 | 16th of 37 | 0.3% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 225 | 104 t | 0.5 | 19th of 33 | <0.1% |
| Dry beans | 23,069 | 18,090 t | 0.8 | 21st of 39 | 2.2% |
| Maize | 44,097 | 71,237 t | 1.6 | 22nd of 47 | 1.9% |
Yield is output divided by area. Coffee is the 2022 to 2023 crop year. Sugar, tea and cotton show processed output.
Livestock and Poultry Kept in Busia
Numbers kept in Busia in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef cattle | 269,917 | 19th of 47 | 1.7% |
| Dairy cattle | 35,976 | 28th of 47 | 0.6% |
| Meat goats | 106,330 | 33rd of 47 | 0.3% |
| Dairy goats | 2,586 | 33rd of 47 | 0.4% |
| Hair sheep | 49,415 | 40th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Pigs | 86,220 | 3rd of 43 | 10.3% |
| Rabbits | 5,461 | 27th of 46 | 0.7% |
| Beehives | 6,049 | 37th of 47 | 0.4% |
| Donkeys | 311 | 43rd of 46 | <0.1% |
| Guinea fowl | 4,877 | 4th of 38 | 5.7% |
| Ducks | 34,133 | 5th of 45 | 6.5% |
| Pigeons | 7,264 | 6th of 28 | 3.2% |
| Indigenous chicken | 1.7 million | 8th of 47 | 3.2% |
| Quails | 786 | 8th of 19 | 2.6% |
| Turkeys | 6,723 | 10th of 44 | 2.8% |
| Geese | 3,212 | 19th of 43 | 1.6% |
| Layers | 60,780 | 22nd of 47 | 1.0% |
| Broilers | 13,005 | 32nd of 47 | 0.2% |
When to Plant in Busia
Busia is in a two-season area. Two seasons. Long rains: plant March to April, harvest July to August. Short rains: plant September to October, harvest December to January.
Blocks show the usual months.
Source: FEWS NET Kenya country book, citing a 2024 Ministry of Agriculture official. Rain onset is erratic, so planting can stretch from March to May. Windows suit crops of 4 to 7 months. Tea, coffee, macadamia and sugarcane go in at the start of the rains. Altitude changes the pattern inside a county, so ask your sub-county agricultural officer.
Five-Year Trends in Busia
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Sugarcane
Up 4% since 2019
tonnes of sugar
Sweet potatoes
Down 31% since 2019
tonnes
Finger millet
Up 4% since 2019
tonnes
Sorghum
Down 49% since 2019
tonnes
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Counties report these figures and they can swing from year to year. Read the direction, not one year.
The Main Products in Busia
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Pigs
Busia recorded about 86,220 pigs in 2023. That ranks 3rd of 43 counties and gives 10.3% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Sweet potatoes
In 2023 Busia produced 59,325 tonnes of sweet potatoes. That ranks 4th of 42 counties and gives 8.9% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 3,938 ha, a yield of 15.1 t per ha. That is about 23% above the national average of 12.3. Output fell 31% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and September to October. Markets to check include Busia Town, Malaba, Port Victoria. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Sugarcane
In 2023 Busia produced 40,770 tonnes of sugar. That ranks 5th of 13 counties and gives 9.1% of Kenya's output. Output rose 4% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Cane goes to mills such as Busia Sugar Industry. Each mill has a catchment, so register as a grower first.
Finger millet
In 2023 Busia produced 2,701 tonnes of finger millet. That ranks 7th of 27 counties and gives 6.9% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 3,334 ha, a yield of 0.8 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 0.8. Output rose 4% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and September to October. Markets to check include Busia Town, Malaba, Port Victoria. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Sorghum
In 2023 Busia produced 7,710 tonnes of sorghum. That ranks 7th of 41 counties and gives 3.9% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 5,392 ha, a yield of 1.4 t per ha. That is about 50% above the national average of 1.0. Output fell 49% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and September to October. Markets to check include Busia Town, Malaba, Port Victoria. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Where to Sell in Busia
Buyers, factories and markets to check first. Each one is a lead, not a promise.
Confirm before delivering. Every name here is a lead from a research directory compiled on 8 November 2026. Operators, catchments and rules change. We have not checked each one.
How to find a buyer in Busia
- Check farm gate and wholesale prices on KAMIS. It covers five markets in every county.
- Ask the county cooperative officer which registered societies buy your product.
- Visit the buyer first. Ask for the grade, price, payment date and who pays transport.
- Start with one small delivery before you commit your harvest.
Coffee
The Coffee Directorate Year Book 2022/23 records 6 cooperative societies running 6 factories in Busia.
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Sugarcane
Mills listed for Busia:
- Busia Sugar Industry
Access: a mill buys cane from its own catchment. Ask about grower registration, harvest dates and transport before you plant.
Fish
Landing points: Port Victoria and other Lake Victoria landing points.
Grain and pulses
National buyers and channels:
- National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots
- Unga Group
- Pembe Flour Mills
- Mombasa Maize Millers
- Capwell Industries
- Kitui Flour Mills
Confirm grades, bag sizes and payment terms before you deliver.
Produce markets
| Market | Commonly traded |
|---|---|
| Busia Town | fish, maize, beans, rice, sugarcane |
| Malaba | maize, rice, beans, sugar, fish |
| Port Victoria | fish, maize, beans, rice, vegetables |
Know a buyer or a market in Busia that should be listed? Tell us on WhatsApp. Please send the business name, product, location and how farmers can sell to it.
Priority Value Chains in Busia
The national strategy backs these products in Busia. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Busia County
Busia is in the Western zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm.
- Crops the zone favours
- Maize, French beans, sugar, groundnuts, sweet potato and Irish potatoes.
- Livestock and fish
- Dairy, poultry and fish.
- Rain and soil
- Two medium rainy seasons. Red soils of medium to high fertility.
- Farming households
- About 1.6 million farming households
- Typical rainfall
- 1,200 to 1,800 mm
- Typical farm size
- 0.5 to 5 acres
- Typical household income
- about KES 15,000 a month
Income, farm size and rainfall are 2019 strategy estimates. Read the AEZ guide to see how zones are set.
Test the Profit of Busia’s Top Products
Pick a product. See revenue, costs and break-even for your acreage in seconds.
What These Figures Do Not Show
Fruit and vegetables
The report has no county figures for tomatoes, avocados or onions. Check local buyers first.
Fish
Fish output is reported by lake and sea, not by county. See the fish guide.
Your ward
Soil and rain change inside a county. Ask your sub-county agricultural officer.
Your profit
Output is not profit. Run your own costs in the profit calculator.
Questions About Farming in Busia
What crops grow best in Busia County?
Busia ranks 3rd for pigs and 4th for sweet potatoes. The biggest crop areas are maize (44,097 ha), dry beans (23,069 ha), sugarcane (22,337 ha).
Which livestock is common in Busia County?
Busia ranks 3rd for pigs, 4th for guinea fowl, 5th for ducks. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Busia County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Busia above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Busia County in?
The national strategy places Busia in the Western zone. Our AEZ guide explains how zones, rain and soil shape what you can grow.
How do I work out profit in Busia County?
Open the farm profit calculator, choose your product, then enter your acres, yield and local price.
Does this cover my sub-county or ward?
No. The national figures stop at county level. Soil and rain change across a county, so ask your sub-county agricultural officer.
Where do the figures come from?
The KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024 is the source. Figures are for 2023, and coffee uses crop year 2022 to 2023.
Ask About Farming in Busia
Tell us what you want to grow or keep. An Agcenture adviser replies on WhatsApp.
This opens WhatsApp with your answers filled in. Nothing is sent until you press send.
Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Busia
Farm business plan
A costed plan for your acreage, market and cash flow. Banks and Saccos ask for one. Ask for a quote.
Finance for your farm
Learn what lenders ask for, which securities they accept and how to apply. We can help you prepare.
County agribusiness brief
For banks, programmes, investors and county teams. A short paid brief on Busia: products, buyers, risks and gaps.
About This Page
Updated 8 November 2026. Production figures are 2023 data from the national report. Buyer and season notes were compiled on the same date.
How we made this page
County output, area and rank come from the KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Rank compares Busia with the counties that report the product. Yield is output divided by area. Trend charts use the same report’s five-year tables.
Planting seasons follow the FEWS NET Kenya country book, which cites a 2024 Ministry of Agriculture official. Zone details come from the 2019 national strategy (ASTGS), explained in our AEZ guide.
Buyer names come from four sources. One is third-party research for Agcenture. The others are the Coffee Directorate Year Book, Brookside’s supplier page and the Kenya Dairy Board register. Prices come from KAMIS. We have not verified each buyer. Tell us if something is wrong.
Written and maintained by the Agcenture editorial team. Report a correction on WhatsApp.
Need Help Choosing in Busia?
Tell an Agcenture adviser your land size and budget. We help you pick a product, find buyers and plan the money.