What to Farm in Trans Nzoia County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Trans Nzoia ranks 2nd for maize and 4th for dry beans among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Trans Nzoia Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Maize
340,542 tonnes
2nd of 47 counties
95,140 ha · 3.6 t per ha · 8.9% of Kenya
Dry beans
47,842 tonnes
4th of 39 counties
61,462 ha · 0.8 t per ha · 5.8% of Kenya
Finger millet
1,193 tonnes
9th of 27 counties
676 ha · 1.8 t per ha · 3.0% of Kenya
Dairy cattle
211,168 animals
11th of 47 counties
3.8% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Trans Nzoia with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Trans Nzoia: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Trans Nzoia.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarcane | 6,269 | 11,442 t sugar | Not given | 10th of 13 | 2.6% |
| Coffee | Not given | 767 t clean coffee | Not given | 13th of 32 | 1.6% |
| Maize | 95,140 | 340,542 t | 3.6 | 2nd of 47 | 8.9% |
| Dry beans | 61,462 | 47,842 t | 0.8 | 4th of 39 | 5.8% |
| Finger millet | 676 | 1,193 t | 1.8 | 9th of 27 | 3.0% |
| Irish potatoes | 1,635 | 13,181 t | 8.1 | 15th of 28 | 0.6% |
| Sweet potatoes | 422 | 5,362 t | 12.7 | 16th of 42 | 0.8% |
| Sorghum | 491 | 988 t | 2.0 | 20th of 41 | 0.5% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 53 | 44 t | 0.8 | 26th of 33 | <0.1% |
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 Trans Nzoia
Numbers kept in Trans Nzoia in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy cattle | 211,168 | 11th of 47 | 3.8% |
| Wool sheep | 4,570 | 15th of 20 | 0.4% |
| Dairy goats | 6,527 | 21st of 47 | 1.1% |
| Hair sheep | 157,324 | 23rd of 47 | 0.7% |
| Meat goats | 39,612 | 43rd of 47 | 0.1% |
| Beef cattle | 8,379 | 44th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Beehives | 23,600 | 19th of 47 | 1.4% |
| Pigs | 8,353 | 20th of 43 | 1.0% |
| Donkeys | 6,019 | 23rd of 46 | 0.3% |
| Rabbits | 4,943 | 30th of 46 | 0.6% |
| Layers | 262,668 | 7th of 47 | 4.1% |
| Turkeys | 7,770 | 8th of 44 | 3.3% |
| Geese | 9,382 | 9th of 43 | 4.7% |
| Indigenous chicken | 1.1 million | 15th of 47 | 2.1% |
| Ducks | 7,759 | 18th of 45 | 1.5% |
| Guinea fowl | 1,352 | 18th of 38 | 1.6% |
| Broilers | 23,414 | 26th of 47 | 0.4% |
When to Plant in Trans Nzoia
Trans Nzoia 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 Trans Nzoia
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Maize
Up 220% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Up 90% since 2019
tonnes
Finger millet
Up 6% since 2019
tonnes
Sugarcane
Down 27% since 2019
tonnes of sugar
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 Trans Nzoia
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Maize
In 2023 Trans Nzoia produced 340,542 tonnes of maize. That ranks 2nd of 47 counties and gives 8.9% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 95,140 ha, a reported yield of 3.6 t per ha. The national average is 1.6, so treat the gap with care. Output rose 220% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Other leading counties: Uasin Gishu, Narok, Bungoma.
Dry beans
In 2023 Trans Nzoia produced 47,842 tonnes of dry beans. That ranks 4th of 39 counties and gives 5.8% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 61,462 ha, a yield of 0.8 t per ha. That is about 12% above the national average of 0.7. Output rose 90% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Layers
Trans Nzoia recorded about 262,668 layers in 2023. That ranks 7th of 47 counties and gives 4.1% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Finger millet
In 2023 Trans Nzoia produced 1,193 tonnes of finger millet. That ranks 9th of 27 counties and gives 3.0% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 676 ha, a reported yield of 1.8 t per ha. The national average is 0.8, so treat the gap with care. Output rose 6% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Sugarcane
In 2023 Trans Nzoia produced 11,442 tonnes of sugar. That ranks 10th of 13 counties and gives 2.6% of Kenya's output. Output fell 27% 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 Trans Nzoia produced 767 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 13th of 32 counties and gives 1.6% of Kenya's output. Output rose 2% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 35 cooperative societies and 35 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Dairy cattle
Trans Nzoia recorded about 211,168 dairy cattle in 2023. That ranks 11th of 47 counties and gives 3.8% of Kenya's total. Milk outlets include New KCC (Kitale), Cherangany Dairy. Most accept milk only from registered members or suppliers.
Where to Sell in Trans Nzoia
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 Trans Nzoia
- 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 Trans Nzoia:
- Kapsara
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 35 cooperative societies running 35 factories in Trans Nzoia.
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Trans Nzoia:
- New KCC (Kitale)
- Cherangany Dairy
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.
Know a buyer or a market in Trans Nzoia 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 Trans Nzoia
The national strategy backs these products in Trans Nzoia. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Trans Nzoia County
Trans Nzoia is in the Western zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm. Parts of Trans Nzoia are in AEZ Zone II: high potential land with at least 1,000 mm of rain. Other parts are in Zone III: medium potential land with 950 to 1,500 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 Trans Nzoia’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 Trans Nzoia
What crops grow best in Trans Nzoia County?
Trans Nzoia ranks 2nd for maize and 4th for dry beans. The biggest crop areas are maize (95,140 ha), dry beans (61,462 ha), sugarcane (6,269 ha).
Which livestock is common in Trans Nzoia County?
Trans Nzoia ranks 7th for layers, 8th for turkeys, 9th for geese. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Trans Nzoia County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Trans Nzoia above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Trans Nzoia County in?
The national strategy places Trans Nzoia 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 Trans Nzoia 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 Trans Nzoia
Tell us what you want to grow or keep. An Agcenture adviser replies on WhatsApp.
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Trans Nzoia
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 Trans Nzoia: 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 Trans Nzoia 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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