What to Farm in Tharaka-Nithi County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Tharaka-Nithi ranks 3rd for beehives and 5th for pigeon peas among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Tharaka-Nithi Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Sorghum
11,066 tonnes
6th of 41 counties
18,843 ha · 0.6 t per ha · 5.6% of Kenya
Meat goats
1.1 million animals
6th of 47 counties
3.3% of Kenya
Macadamia
1,660 tonnes of nuts
7th of 12 counties
281 ha · 5.9 t per ha · 4.1% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Tharaka-Nithi with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Tharaka-Nithi: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Tharaka-Nithi.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macadamia | 281 | 1,660 t nuts | 5.9 | 7th of 12 | 4.1% |
| Cotton | Not given | 142 bales of lint | Not given | 8th of 21 | 2.0% |
| Coffee | Not given | 806 t clean coffee | Not given | 12th of 32 | 1.7% |
| Tea | 1,801 | 4,659 t made tea | 2.6 | 13th of 15 | 0.8% |
| Pearl millet | 17,290 | 7,783 t | 0.5 | 3rd of 5 | 16.4% |
| Pigeon peas | Not given | 12,596 t | Not given | 5th of 19 | 6.9% |
| Sorghum | 18,843 | 11,066 t | 0.6 | 6th of 41 | 5.6% |
| Sweet potatoes | 116 | 1,032 t | 8.9 | 32nd of 42 | 0.2% |
| Maize | 23,640 | 20,702 t | 0.9 | 35th of 47 | 0.5% |
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 Tharaka-Nithi
Numbers kept in Tharaka-Nithi in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meat goats | 1.1 million | 6th of 47 | 3.3% |
| Dairy goats | 22,815 | 8th of 47 | 3.8% |
| Dairy cattle | 76,675 | 23rd of 47 | 1.4% |
| Beef cattle | 92,777 | 35th of 47 | 0.6% |
| Hair sheep | 57,512 | 38th of 47 | 0.3% |
| Rabbits | 101,271 | 1st of 46 | 13.0% |
| Beehives | 170,003 | 3rd of 47 | 10.1% |
| Pigs | 16,503 | 15th of 43 | 2.0% |
| Donkeys | 4,662 | 27th of 46 | 0.3% |
| Geese | 11,827 | 6th of 43 | 5.9% |
| Pigeons | 1,003 | 14th of 28 | 0.4% |
| Broilers | 25,491 | 23rd of 47 | 0.5% |
| Layers | 45,660 | 27th of 47 | 0.7% |
| Ducks | 3,185 | 32nd of 45 | 0.6% |
| Guinea fowl | 275 | 32nd of 38 | 0.3% |
| Indigenous chicken | 541,772 | 33rd of 47 | 1.0% |
| Turkeys | 414 | 36th of 44 | 0.2% |
When to Plant in Tharaka-Nithi
Tharaka-Nithi is in a two-season area. Two seasons. Long rains: plant March to April, harvest July to August. Short rains: plant October to November, harvest February to March. In the Eastern region the short rains are the most reliable.
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 Tharaka-Nithi
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Sorghum
Down 10% since 2019
tonnes
Coffee
Down 42% since 18/19
tonnes of clean coffee
Tea
Up 10% since 2019
tonnes of made tea
Maize
Down 15% 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 Tharaka-Nithi
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Beehives
Tharaka-Nithi recorded about 170,003 beehives in 2023. That ranks 3rd of 47 counties and gives 10.1% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Other leading counties: Kitui, Baringo, Tharaka Nithi.
Pigeon peas
In 2023 Tharaka-Nithi produced 12,596 tonnes of pigeon peas. That ranks 5th of 19 counties and gives 6.9% of Kenya's output. Plant in March to April and October to November. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Sorghum
In 2023 Tharaka-Nithi produced 11,066 tonnes of sorghum. That ranks 6th of 41 counties and gives 5.6% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 18,843 ha, a yield of 0.6 t per ha. That is about 38% below the national average of 1.0. Output fell 10% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and October to November. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Meat goats
Tharaka-Nithi recorded about 1.1 million meat goats in 2023. That ranks 6th of 47 counties and gives 3.3% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Macadamia
In 2023 Tharaka-Nithi produced 1,660 tonnes of macadamia nuts. That ranks 7th of 12 counties and gives 4.1% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 281 ha, a yield of 5.9 t per ha. That is about 16% above the national average of 5.1. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Tea
In 2023 Tharaka-Nithi produced 4,659 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 13th of 15 counties and gives 0.8% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 1,801 ha, a yield of 2.6 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 2.5. Output rose 10% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Coffee
In 2023 Tharaka-Nithi produced 806 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 12th of 32 counties and gives 1.7% of Kenya's output. Output fell 42% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 30 cooperative societies and 54 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Where to Sell in Tharaka-Nithi
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 Tharaka-Nithi
- 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 30 cooperative societies running 54 factories in Tharaka-Nithi.
Millers named for the area:
- Tharaka Nithi County Coffee Mill
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Tharaka-Nithi:
- Brookside lists the county in its supplier coverage (Marima cooling centre)
Brookside publishes these supplier rules:
- Fresh cow milk.
- Butterfat of at least 3.7%.
- No antibiotics or preservatives.
- Milk chilled to 3 to 6 degrees Celsius.
Its supplier registration line is 0702 967 911 (SMS 22323).
Access: many outlets take milk only from registered members or suppliers. Ask about membership and price before you deliver.
Livestock
No named livestock market is in our directory for Tharaka-Nithi yet.
Ask the county livestock or veterinary office for market names and days. Never move animals without the right permits.
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.
Know a buyer or a market in Tharaka-Nithi 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 Tharaka-Nithi
The national strategy backs these products in Tharaka-Nithi. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Tharaka-Nithi County
Tharaka-Nithi is in the Central Highlands zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm.
- Crops the zone favours
- Coffee, tea, Irish potatoes, French beans, bananas and tomatoes.
- Livestock and fish
- Dairy cattle and poultry.
- Rain and soil
- Two seasons of high rain. Deep, very fertile red soils.
- Farming households
- About 1 million farming households
- Typical rainfall
- 1,600 to over 2,000 mm
- Typical farm size
- 2 to 5 acres
- Typical household income
- about KES 30,000 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 Tharaka-Nithi’s Top Products
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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 Tharaka-Nithi
What crops grow best in Tharaka-Nithi County?
Tharaka-Nithi ranks 3rd for beehives and 5th for pigeon peas. The biggest crop areas are maize (23,640 ha), sorghum (18,843 ha), pearl millet (17,290 ha).
Which livestock is common in Tharaka-Nithi County?
Tharaka-Nithi ranks 1st for rabbits, 3rd for beehives, 6th for geese. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Tharaka-Nithi County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Tharaka-Nithi above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Tharaka-Nithi County in?
The national strategy places Tharaka-Nithi in the Central Highlands zone. Our AEZ guide explains how zones, rain and soil shape what you can grow.
How do I work out profit in Tharaka-Nithi 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 Tharaka-Nithi
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Tharaka-Nithi
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
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County agribusiness brief
For banks, programmes, investors and county teams. A short paid brief on Tharaka-Nithi: 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 Tharaka-Nithi 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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