What to Farm in Kirinyaga County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Kirinyaga ranks 2nd for coffee and 3rd for broilers among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Kirinyaga Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Macadamia
4,301 tonnes of nuts
5th of 12 counties
879 ha · 4.9 t per ha · 10.6% of Kenya
Tea
20,929 tonnes of made tea
9th of 15 counties
8,266 ha · 2.5 t per ha · 3.7% of Kenya
Dry beans
23,335 tonnes
13th of 39 counties
21,816 ha · 1.1 t per ha · 2.9% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Kirinyaga with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Kirinyaga: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Kirinyaga.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | Not given | 8,406 t clean coffee | Not given | 2nd of 32 | 17.3% |
| Macadamia | 879 | 4,301 t nuts | 4.9 | 5th of 12 | 10.6% |
| Tea | 8,266 | 20,929 t made tea | 2.5 | 9th of 15 | 3.7% |
| Cotton | Not given | 20 bales of lint | Not given | 16th of 21 | 0.3% |
| Dry beans | 21,816 | 23,335 t | 1.1 | 13th of 39 | 2.9% |
| Pigeon peas | 117 | 47 t | 0.4 | 15th of 19 | <0.1% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 210 | 162 t | 0.8 | 17th of 33 | <0.1% |
| Sweet potatoes | 409 | 5,117 t | 12.5 | 17th of 42 | 0.8% |
| Irish potatoes | 352 | 3,001 t | 8.5 | 19th of 28 | 0.1% |
| Finger millet | 60 | 98 t | 1.6 | 20th of 27 | 0.2% |
| Maize | 38,467 | 49,692 t | 1.3 | 26th of 47 | 1.3% |
| Sorghum | 110 | 149 t | 1.4 | 31st of 41 | <0.1% |
| Cowpeas | 48 | 21 t | 0.4 | 33rd of 37 | <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 Kirinyaga
Numbers kept in Kirinyaga in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy goats | 24,337 | 7th of 47 | 4.0% |
| Dairy cattle | 89,889 | 21st of 47 | 1.6% |
| Beef cattle | 41,100 | 39th of 47 | 0.3% |
| Meat goats | 52,355 | 41st of 47 | 0.2% |
| Hair sheep | 19,178 | 42nd of 47 | <0.1% |
| Pigs | 17,616 | 13th of 43 | 2.1% |
| Rabbits | 21,099 | 13th of 46 | 2.7% |
| Donkeys | 5,055 | 26th of 46 | 0.3% |
| Beehives | 17,298 | 29th of 47 | 1.0% |
| Broilers | 499,050 | 3rd of 47 | 9.1% |
| Geese | 8,638 | 10th of 43 | 4.3% |
| Ducks | 9,050 | 17th of 45 | 1.7% |
| Guinea fowl | 920 | 22nd of 38 | 1.1% |
| Layers | 44,600 | 28th of 47 | 0.7% |
| Turkeys | 796 | 31st of 44 | 0.3% |
| Indigenous chicken | 383,848 | 37th of 47 | 0.7% |
When to Plant in Kirinyaga
Kirinyaga 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 Kirinyaga
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Coffee
Up 30% since 18/19
tonnes of clean coffee
Tea
Up 17% since 2019
tonnes of made tea
Dry beans
Up 225% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Up 10% 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 Kirinyaga
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Coffee
In 2023 Kirinyaga produced 8,406 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 2nd of 32 counties and gives 17.3% of Kenya's output. Output rose 30% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 15 cooperative societies and 76 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Broilers
Kirinyaga recorded about 499,050 broilers in 2023. That ranks 3rd of 47 counties and gives 9.1% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Macadamia
In 2023 Kirinyaga produced 4,301 tonnes of macadamia nuts. That ranks 5th of 12 counties and gives 10.6% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 879 ha, a yield of 4.9 t per ha. That is close to 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 Kirinyaga produced 20,929 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 9th of 15 counties and gives 3.7% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 8,266 ha, a yield of 2.5 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 2.5. Output rose 17% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Green leaf goes to KTDA factories such as Mununga, Kimunye, Thumaita. Join through your factory company.
Dry beans
In 2023 Kirinyaga produced 23,335 tonnes of dry beans. That ranks 13th of 39 counties and gives 2.9% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 21,816 ha, a yield of 1.1 t per ha. That is about 54% above the national average of 0.7. Output rose 225% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and September to October. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Where to Sell in Kirinyaga
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 Kirinyaga
- 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 Kirinyaga:
- Mununga
- Kimunye
- Thumaita
- Kathangariri
- Mungania
- Rukuriri
Gatitu Tea Factory (Nyayo Tea Zones) serves buffer zones in Kirinyaga, Embu, Mathira and Meru South.
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 15 cooperative societies running 76 factories in Kirinyaga.
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Kirinyaga:
- Kirima Slopes Dairy Cooperative
- Mutira Maziwa Farmers
- Rungeto Dairy Farmers
Access: many outlets take milk only from registered members or suppliers. Ask about membership and price before you deliver.
Fruit and vegetable exporters
Exporters and packhouses listed:
- Kenya Horticultural Exporters (Mwea packhouse)
Access: exporters usually buy under contract. Ask about grade, packaging and payment terms.
Know a buyer or a market in Kirinyaga 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 Kirinyaga
The national strategy backs these products in Kirinyaga. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Kirinyaga County
Kirinyaga is in the Central Highlands zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm. Parts of Kirinyaga are in AEZ Zone II: high potential land with at least 1,000 mm of rain.
- 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 Kirinyaga’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 Kirinyaga
What crops grow best in Kirinyaga County?
Kirinyaga ranks 2nd for coffee and 3rd for broilers. The biggest crop areas are maize (38,467 ha), dry beans (21,816 ha), tea (8,266 ha).
Which livestock is common in Kirinyaga County?
Kirinyaga ranks 3rd for broilers, 7th for dairy goats, 10th for geese. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Kirinyaga County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Kirinyaga above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Kirinyaga County in?
The national strategy places Kirinyaga 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 Kirinyaga 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 Kirinyaga
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Kirinyaga
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 Kirinyaga: 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 Kirinyaga 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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