What to Farm in Kericho County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Kericho ranks 2nd for tea and 5th for coffee among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Kericho Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Tea
104,846 tonnes of made tea
2nd of 15 counties
40,981 ha · 2.6 t per ha · 18.6% of Kenya
Dairy cattle
281,601 animals
7th of 47 counties
5.1% of Kenya
Dry beans
25,336 tonnes
9th of 39 counties
23,261 ha · 1.1 t per ha · 3.1% of Kenya
Maize
111,130 tonnes
12th of 47 counties
40,643 ha · 2.7 t per ha · 2.9% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Kericho with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Kericho: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Kericho.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tea | 40,981 | 104,846 t made tea | 2.6 | 2nd of 15 | 18.6% |
| Coffee | Not given | 4,724 t clean coffee | Not given | 5th of 32 | 9.7% |
| Sugarcane | 14,751 | 26,924 t sugar | Not given | 8th of 13 | 6.0% |
| Dry beans | 23,261 | 25,336 t | 1.1 | 9th of 39 | 3.1% |
| Maize | 40,643 | 111,130 t | 2.7 | 12th of 47 | 2.9% |
| Finger millet | 493 | 799 t | 1.6 | 13th of 27 | 2.0% |
| Irish potatoes | 704 | 8,518 t | 12.1 | 17th of 28 | 0.4% |
| Sorghum | 985 | 1,064 t | 1.1 | 18th of 41 | 0.5% |
| Sweet potatoes | 311 | 3,958 t | 12.7 | 24th of 42 | 0.6% |
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 Kericho
Numbers kept in Kericho in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy cattle | 281,601 | 7th of 47 | 5.1% |
| Wool sheep | 12,195 | 12th of 20 | 1.0% |
| Beef cattle | 111,398 | 34th of 47 | 0.7% |
| Meat goats | 82,737 | 35th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Dairy goats | 2,068 | 36th of 47 | 0.3% |
| Hair sheep | 53,001 | 39th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Donkeys | 15,000 | 16th of 46 | 0.9% |
| Beehives | 20,448 | 23rd of 47 | 1.2% |
| Rabbits | 6,874 | 23rd of 46 | 0.9% |
| Pigs | 1,322 | 33rd of 43 | 0.2% |
| Geese | 3,406 | 18th of 43 | 1.7% |
| Layers | 49,641 | 26th of 47 | 0.8% |
| Ducks | 4,641 | 26th of 45 | 0.9% |
| Indigenous chicken | 505,099 | 34th of 47 | 0.9% |
| Turkeys | 608 | 34th of 44 | 0.3% |
| Broilers | 8,810 | 35th of 47 | 0.2% |
When to Plant in Kericho
Kericho is in a one-season area. One main season. Plant in March to April and harvest in November to December.
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 Kericho
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Tea
Up 23% since 2019
tonnes of made tea
Coffee
Up 22% since 18/19
tonnes of clean coffee
Sugarcane
Up 164% since 2019
tonnes of sugar
Dry beans
Up 70% 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 Kericho
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Tea
In 2023 Kericho produced 104,846 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 2nd of 15 counties and gives 18.6% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 40,981 ha, a yield of 2.6 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 2.5. Output rose 23% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Green leaf goes to KTDA factories such as Toror, Tegat, Momul. Join through your factory company.
Coffee
In 2023 Kericho produced 4,724 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 5th of 32 counties and gives 9.7% of Kenya's output. Output rose 22% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 95 cooperative societies and 117 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Dairy cattle
Kericho recorded about 281,601 dairy cattle in 2023. That ranks 7th of 47 counties and gives 5.1% of Kenya's total. Milk outlets include Kabianga Dairy, Kericho Farmers Milk Processors, Kipkelion Dairy Plant. Most accept milk only from registered members or suppliers.
Sugarcane
In 2023 Kericho produced 26,924 tonnes of sugar. That ranks 8th of 13 counties and gives 6.0% of Kenya's output. Output rose 164% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Cane goes to mills such as West Valley Sugar, Soin Sugar. Each mill has a catchment, so register as a grower first.
Dry beans
In 2023 Kericho produced 25,336 tonnes of dry beans. That ranks 9th of 39 counties and gives 3.1% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 23,261 ha, a yield of 1.1 t per ha. That is about 57% above the national average of 0.7. Output rose 70% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April. Markets to check include Kapkatet, Kericho Municipal, Litein. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Where to Sell in Kericho
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 Kericho
- 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.
Tea
KTDA factories listed for Kericho:
- Toror
- Tegat
- Momul
- Litein
- Chelal
- Olenguruone
- Kapkatet
- Kobel
- Kapset
- Rorok
- Mogogosiek
- Kapkoros
- Tebesonik
- Boito
- Motigo
- Tirgaga
Access: factories take leaf from registered growers in their catchment. Confirm the catchment, registration steps and collection point first.
Coffee
The Coffee Directorate Year Book 2022/23 records 95 cooperative societies running 117 factories in Kericho.
Millers named for the area:
- Kipkelion District Cooperative Union coffee mills
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Sugarcane
Mills listed for Kericho:
- West Valley Sugar
- Soin Sugar
Access: a mill buys cane from its own catchment. Ask about grower registration, harvest dates and transport before you plant.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Kericho:
- Kabianga Dairy
- Kericho Farmers Milk Processors
- Kipkelion Dairy Plant
Access: many outlets take milk only from registered members or suppliers. Ask about membership and price before you deliver.
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 |
|---|---|
| Kapkatet | tea, maize, potatoes, beans, cabbages |
| Kericho Municipal | tea, maize, potatoes, beans, cabbages |
| Litein | tea, maize, beans, potatoes, vegetables |
Know a buyer or a market in Kericho 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 Kericho
The national strategy backs these products in Kericho. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Kericho County
Kericho is in the Western zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm. Parts of Kericho are in AEZ Zone II: high potential land with at least 1,000 mm of rain.
- 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 Kericho’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 Kericho
What crops grow best in Kericho County?
Kericho ranks 2nd for tea and 5th for coffee. The biggest crop areas are tea (40,981 ha), maize (40,643 ha), dry beans (23,261 ha).
Which livestock is common in Kericho County?
Kericho ranks 7th for dairy cattle, 12th for wool sheep, 16th for donkeys. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Kericho County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Kericho above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Kericho County in?
The national strategy places Kericho 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 Kericho 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 Kericho
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Kericho
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 Kericho: 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 Kericho 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.
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