What to Farm in Kisii County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Kisii ranks 3rd for finger millet and 10th for tea among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Kisii Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Finger millet
5,835 tonnes
3rd of 27 counties
7,576 ha · 0.8 t per ha · 14.8% of Kenya
Tea
18,607 tonnes of made tea
10th of 15 counties
8,444 ha · 2.2 t per ha · 3.3% of Kenya
Maize
119,244 tonnes
10th of 47 counties
66,221 ha · 1.8 t per ha · 3.1% of Kenya
Dry beans
24,392 tonnes
10th of 39 counties
48,336 ha · 0.5 t per ha · 3.0% of Kenya
Indigenous chicken
1 million birds
16th of 47 counties
1.9% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Kisii with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Kisii: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Kisii.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tea | 8,444 | 18,607 t made tea | 2.2 | 10th of 15 | 3.3% |
| Coffee | Not given | 1,148 t clean coffee | Not given | 11th of 32 | 2.4% |
| Sugarcane | 1,759 | 3,210 t sugar | Not given | 12th of 13 | 0.7% |
| Finger millet | 7,576 | 5,835 t | 0.8 | 3rd of 27 | 14.8% |
| Maize | 66,221 | 119,244 t | 1.8 | 10th of 47 | 3.1% |
| Dry beans | 48,336 | 24,392 t | 0.5 | 10th of 39 | 3.0% |
| Sweet potatoes | 550 | 6,046 t | 11.0 | 14th of 42 | 0.9% |
| Irish potatoes | 46 | 382 t | 8.3 | 23rd of 28 | <0.1% |
| Cowpeas | 64 | 77 t | 1.2 | 26th of 37 | <0.1% |
| Sorghum | 117 | 98 t | 0.8 | 35th of 41 | <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 Kisii
Numbers kept in Kisii in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy cattle | 57,236 | 25th of 47 | 1.0% |
| Beef cattle | 166,028 | 29th of 47 | 1.0% |
| Dairy goats | 2,473 | 35th of 47 | 0.4% |
| Meat goats | 64,721 | 40th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Hair sheep | 15,676 | 43rd of 47 | <0.1% |
| Rabbits | 5,623 | 26th of 46 | 0.7% |
| Pigs | 1,862 | 31st of 43 | 0.2% |
| Donkeys | 1,762 | 36th of 46 | 0.1% |
| Beehives | 6,763 | 36th of 47 | 0.4% |
| Layers | 97,679 | 15th of 47 | 1.5% |
| Quails | 145 | 15th of 19 | 0.5% |
| Indigenous chicken | 1 million | 16th of 47 | 1.9% |
| Pigeons | 474 | 18th of 28 | 0.2% |
| Guinea fowl | 1,084 | 19th of 38 | 1.3% |
| Turkeys | 1,415 | 23rd of 44 | 0.6% |
| Broilers | 25,106 | 24th of 47 | 0.5% |
| Ducks | 3,501 | 31st of 45 | 0.7% |
| Geese | 1,182 | 33rd of 43 | 0.6% |
When to Plant in Kisii
Kisii 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 Kisii
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Finger millet
Down 33% since 2019
tonnes
Tea
Down 6% since 2019
tonnes of made tea
Maize
Down 17% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Up 1% 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 Kisii
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Finger millet
In 2023 Kisii produced 5,835 tonnes of finger millet. That ranks 3rd of 27 counties and gives 14.8% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 7,576 ha, a yield of 0.8 t per ha. That is about 6% below the national average of 0.8. Output fell 33% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and September to October. Markets to check include Daraja Mbili. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Tea
In 2023 Kisii produced 18,607 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 10th of 15 counties and gives 3.3% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 8,444 ha, a yield of 2.2 t per ha. That is about 12% below the national average of 2.5. Output fell 6% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Green leaf goes to KTDA factories such as Nyamache, Ogembo, Eberege. Join through your factory company.
Maize
In 2023 Kisii produced 119,244 tonnes of maize. That ranks 10th of 47 counties and gives 3.1% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 66,221 ha, a yield of 1.8 t per ha. That is about 11% above the national average of 1.6. Output fell 17% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and September to October. Markets to check include Daraja Mbili. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Other leading counties: Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Narok.
Dry beans
In 2023 Kisii produced 24,392 tonnes of dry beans. That ranks 10th of 39 counties and gives 3.0% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 48,336 ha, a yield of 0.5 t per ha. That is about 27% below the national average of 0.7. Output rose 1% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and September to October. Markets to check include Daraja Mbili. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Coffee
In 2023 Kisii produced 1,148 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 11th of 32 counties and gives 2.4% of Kenya's output. Output fell 19% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 23 cooperative societies and 61 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Sugarcane
In 2023 Kisii produced 3,210 tonnes of sugar. That ranks 12th of 13 counties and gives 0.7% of Kenya's output. Output fell 33% 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.
Where to Sell in Kisii
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 Kisii
- 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 Kisii:
- Nyamache
- Ogembo
- Eberege
- Kiamokama
- Rianyamwamu
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 23 cooperative societies running 61 factories in Kisii.
Millers named for the area:
- Gusii Coffee Farmers Cooperative Mills (Gusii region)
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Kisii:
- Highland Creamers and Foods
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 |
|---|---|
| Daraja Mbili | regional fresh produce market |
Know a buyer or a market in Kisii 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 Kisii
The national strategy backs these products in Kisii. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Kisii County
Kisii 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 Kisii’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 Kisii
What crops grow best in Kisii County?
Kisii ranks 3rd for finger millet and 10th for tea. The biggest crop areas are maize (66,221 ha), dry beans (48,336 ha), tea (8,444 ha).
Which livestock is common in Kisii County?
Kisii ranks 15th for layers, 15th for quails, 16th for indigenous chicken. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Kisii County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Kisii above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Kisii County in?
The national strategy places Kisii 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 Kisii 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 Kisii
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Kisii
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 Kisii: 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 Kisii 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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