What to Farm in Kwale County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Kwale ranks 7th for green grams and 8th for cowpeas among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Kwale Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Green grams (ndengu)
3,335 tonnes
7th of 33 counties
6,539 ha · 0.5 t per ha · 2.0% of Kenya
Cowpeas
3,396 tonnes
8th of 37 counties
5,687 ha · 0.6 t per ha · 2.2% of Kenya
Maize
61,037 tonnes
24th of 47 counties
60,518 ha · 1.0 t per ha · 1.6% of Kenya
Beef cattle
260,801 animals
20th of 47 counties
1.6% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Kwale with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Kwale: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Kwale.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarcane | 7,467 | 13,629 t sugar | Not given | 9th of 13 | 3.1% |
| Cotton | Not given | 38 bales of lint | Not given | 15th of 21 | 0.5% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 6,539 | 3,335 t | 0.5 | 7th of 33 | 2.0% |
| Cowpeas | 5,687 | 3,396 t | 0.6 | 8th of 37 | 2.2% |
| Sweet potatoes | 869 | 4,358 t | 5.0 | 18th of 42 | 0.7% |
| Pigeon peas | 9 | 8 t | 0.9 | 19th of 19 | <0.1% |
| Maize | 60,518 | 61,037 t | 1.0 | 24th of 47 | 1.6% |
| Sorghum | 308 | 190 t | 0.6 | 30th of 41 | <0.1% |
| Dry beans | 324 | 227 t | 0.7 | 34th of 39 | <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 Kwale
Numbers kept in Kwale in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef cattle | 260,801 | 20th of 47 | 1.6% |
| Meat goats | 472,803 | 22nd of 47 | 1.4% |
| Dairy goats | 3,584 | 29th of 47 | 0.6% |
| Hair sheep | 77,309 | 32nd of 47 | 0.4% |
| Dairy cattle | 8,472 | 39th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Camels | 2,826 | 14th of 26 | <0.1% |
| Beehives | 15,871 | 31st of 47 | 0.9% |
| Pigs | 1,051 | 35th of 43 | 0.1% |
| Donkeys | 1,359 | 37th of 46 | <0.1% |
| Rabbits | 2,498 | 38th of 46 | 0.3% |
| Guinea fowl | 16,399 | 1st of 38 | 19.1% |
| Ducks | 51,939 | 3rd of 45 | 9.8% |
| Pigeons | 8,566 | 5th of 28 | 3.8% |
| Broilers | 79,568 | 15th of 47 | 1.4% |
| Turkeys | 1,137 | 26th of 44 | 0.5% |
| Geese | 1,861 | 27th of 43 | 0.9% |
| Layers | 41,594 | 30th of 47 | 0.7% |
| Indigenous chicken | 614,192 | 31st of 47 | 1.1% |
When to Plant in Kwale
Kwale 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.
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 Kwale
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Sugarcane
Down 36% since 2019
tonnes of sugar
Cowpeas
Up 214% since 2019
tonnes
Green grams (ndengu)
Up 92% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Up 72% 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 Kwale
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Green grams (ndengu)
In 2023 Kwale produced 3,335 tonnes of green grams. That ranks 7th of 33 counties and gives 2.0% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 6,539 ha, a yield of 0.5 t per ha. That is about 16% below the national average of 0.6. Output rose 92% 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.
Cowpeas
In 2023 Kwale produced 3,396 tonnes of cowpeas. That ranks 8th of 37 counties and gives 2.2% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 5,687 ha, a yield of 0.6 t per ha. That is about 11% below the national average of 0.7. Output rose 214% 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.
Sugarcane
In 2023 Kwale produced 13,629 tonnes of sugar. That ranks 9th of 13 counties and gives 3.1% of Kenya's output. Output fell 36% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Cane goes to mills such as Kwale International Sugar Company. Each mill has a catchment, so register as a grower first.
Maize
In 2023 Kwale produced 61,037 tonnes of maize. That ranks 24th of 47 counties and gives 1.6% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 60,518 ha, a yield of 1.0 t per ha. That is about 38% below the national average of 1.6. Output rose 72% 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.
Other leading counties: Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Narok.
Beef cattle
Kwale recorded about 260,801 beef cattle in 2023. That ranks 20th of 47 counties and gives 1.6% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Where to Sell in Kwale
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 Kwale
- 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.
Sugarcane
Mills listed for Kwale:
- Kwale International Sugar Company
Access: a mill buys cane from its own catchment. Ask about grower registration, harvest dates and transport before you plant.
Livestock
No named livestock market is in our directory for Kwale yet.
Ask the county livestock or veterinary office for market names and days. Never move animals without the right permits.
Fish
Landing points: Shimoni, Vanga and coastal landing sites.
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 Kwale 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 Kwale
The national strategy backs these products in Kwale. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Fish.
Rain and Soil in Kwale County
Kwale is in the Coast zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm.
- Crops the zone favours
- Maize, sorghum, millet, cashews and mangoes.
- Livestock and fish
- Poultry, plus sea fish, crabs, prawns and shellfish.
- Rain and soil
- Two seasons of moderate rain. A mix of sandy and fertile soils.
- Farming households
- About 0.3 million farming households
- Typical rainfall
- 600 to 1,200 mm
- Typical farm size
- 1 to 10 acres
- Typical household income
- under KES 10,000 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 Kwale’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 Kwale
What crops grow best in Kwale County?
Kwale ranks 7th for green grams and 8th for cowpeas. The biggest crop areas are maize (60,518 ha), sugarcane (7,467 ha), green grams (6,539 ha).
Which livestock is common in Kwale County?
Kwale ranks 1st for guinea fowl, 3rd for ducks, 5th for pigeons. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Kwale County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Kwale above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Kwale County in?
The national strategy places Kwale in the Coast zone. Our AEZ guide explains how zones, rain and soil shape what you can grow.
How do I work out profit in Kwale 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 Kwale
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Kwale
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 Kwale: 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 Kwale 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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