What to Farm in Uasin Gishu County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Uasin Gishu ranks 1st for maize and 4th for dairy cattle among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Uasin Gishu Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Maize
360,454 tonnes
1st of 47 counties
102,820 ha · 3.5 t per ha · 9.5% of Kenya
Dairy cattle
349,714 animals
4th of 47 counties
6.3% of Kenya
Irish potatoes
55,590 tonnes
9th of 28 counties
7,699 ha · 7.2 t per ha · 2.4% of Kenya
Dry beans
23,560 tonnes
11th of 39 counties
22,430 ha · 1.1 t per ha · 2.9% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Uasin Gishu with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Uasin Gishu: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Uasin Gishu.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarcane | 3,883 | 7,088 t sugar | Not given | 11th of 13 | 1.6% |
| Coffee | Not given | 92 t clean coffee | Not given | 18th of 32 | 0.2% |
| Maize | 102,820 | 360,454 t | 3.5 | 1st of 47 | 9.5% |
| Irish potatoes | 7,699 | 55,590 t | 7.2 | 9th of 28 | 2.4% |
| Dry beans | 22,430 | 23,560 t | 1.1 | 11th of 39 | 2.9% |
| Finger millet | 240 | 420 t | 1.8 | 16th of 27 | 1.1% |
| Sorghum | 89 | 217 t | 2.4 | 29th of 41 | 0.1% |
| Sweet potatoes | 40 | 646 t | 16.1 | 34th of 42 | <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 Uasin Gishu
Numbers kept in Uasin Gishu in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy cattle | 349,714 | 4th of 47 | 6.3% |
| Wool sheep | 40,269 | 7th of 20 | 3.2% |
| Hair sheep | 141,105 | 25th of 47 | 0.6% |
| Meat goats | 89,041 | 34th of 47 | 0.3% |
| Beef cattle | 43,622 | 38th of 47 | 0.3% |
| Dairy goats | 913 | 41st of 47 | 0.2% |
| Pigs | 17,251 | 14th of 43 | 2.1% |
| Beehives | 27,882 | 15th of 47 | 1.7% |
| Rabbits | 12,570 | 19th of 46 | 1.6% |
| Camels | 6 | 25th of 26 | <0.1% |
| Donkeys | 5,700 | 25th of 46 | 0.3% |
| Broilers | 44,305 | 19th of 47 | 0.8% |
| Indigenous chicken | 710,235 | 26th of 47 | 1.3% |
| Layers | 44,350 | 29th of 47 | 0.7% |
| Turkeys | 684 | 33rd of 44 | 0.3% |
| Guinea fowl | 267 | 33rd of 38 | 0.3% |
| Geese | 927 | 35th of 43 | 0.5% |
| Ducks | 1,170 | 37th of 45 | 0.2% |
When to Plant in Uasin Gishu
Uasin Gishu 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 Uasin Gishu
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Maize
Up 260% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Up 190% since 2019
tonnes
Irish potatoes
Up 39% since 2019
tonnes
Sugarcane
Up 69% 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 Uasin Gishu
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Maize
In 2023 Uasin Gishu produced 360,454 tonnes of maize. That ranks 1st of 47 counties and gives 9.5% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 102,820 ha, a reported yield of 3.5 t per ha. The national average is 1.6, so treat the gap with care. Output rose 260% 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: Trans Nzoia, Narok, Bungoma.
Dairy cattle
Uasin Gishu recorded about 349,714 dairy cattle in 2023. That ranks 4th of 47 counties and gives 6.3% of Kenya's total. Milk outlets include New KCC (Eldoret), Brookside (Eldoret, RITT), Buzeki Eldoret. Most accept milk only from registered members or suppliers.
Irish potatoes
In 2023 Uasin Gishu produced 55,590 tonnes of Irish potatoes. That ranks 9th of 28 counties and gives 2.4% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 7,699 ha, a yield of 7.2 t per ha. That is about 25% below the national average of 9.7. Output rose 39% 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: Nakuru, Nyandarua, Elgeyo Marakwet.
Dry beans
In 2023 Uasin Gishu produced 23,560 tonnes of dry beans. That ranks 11th of 39 counties and gives 2.9% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 22,430 ha, a yield of 1.1 t per ha. That is about 51% above the national average of 0.7. Output rose 190% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Pigs
Uasin Gishu recorded about 17,251 pigs in 2023. That ranks 14th of 43 counties and gives 2.1% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Sugarcane
In 2023 Uasin Gishu produced 7,088 tonnes of sugar. That ranks 11th of 13 counties and gives 1.6% of Kenya's output. Output rose 69% 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 Uasin Gishu
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 Uasin Gishu
- 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 6 cooperative societies running 6 factories in Uasin Gishu.
Millers named for the area:
- CMS Mills (Eldoret)
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Uasin Gishu:
- New KCC (Eldoret)
- Brookside (Eldoret, RITT)
- Buzeki Eldoret
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.
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 Uasin Gishu 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 Uasin Gishu
The national strategy backs these products in Uasin Gishu. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Uasin Gishu County
Uasin Gishu is in the Western zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm. Parts of Uasin Gishu are in AEZ 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 Uasin Gishu’s Top Products
Pick a product. See revenue, costs and break-even for your acreage in seconds.
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 Uasin Gishu
What crops grow best in Uasin Gishu County?
Uasin Gishu ranks 1st for maize and 4th for dairy cattle. The biggest crop areas are maize (102,820 ha), dry beans (22,430 ha), Irish potatoes (7,699 ha).
Which livestock is common in Uasin Gishu County?
Uasin Gishu ranks 4th for dairy cattle, 7th for wool sheep, 14th for pigs. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Uasin Gishu County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Uasin Gishu above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Uasin Gishu County in?
The national strategy places Uasin Gishu 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 Uasin Gishu 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 Uasin Gishu
Tell us what you want to grow or keep. An Agcenture adviser replies on WhatsApp.
This opens WhatsApp with your answers filled in. Nothing is sent until you press send.
Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Uasin Gishu
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 Uasin Gishu: 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 Uasin Gishu 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.
Need Help Choosing in Uasin Gishu?
Tell an Agcenture adviser your land size and budget. We help you pick a product, find buyers and plan the money.