What to Farm in Laikipia County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Laikipia ranks 4th for beehives and 10th for Irish potatoes among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Laikipia Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Irish potatoes
47,857 tonnes
10th of 28 counties
6,099 ha · 7.8 t per ha · 2.1% of Kenya
Meat goats
596,240 animals
18th of 47 counties
1.7% of Kenya
Beef cattle
243,266 animals
22nd of 47 counties
1.5% of Kenya
Dairy cattle
79,575 animals
22nd of 47 counties
1.4% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Laikipia with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Laikipia: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Laikipia.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | Not given | 10 t clean coffee | Not given | 29th of 32 | <0.1% |
| Irish potatoes | 6,099 | 47,857 t | 7.8 | 10th of 28 | 2.1% |
| Pigeon peas | 172 | 70 t | 0.4 | 12th of 19 | <0.1% |
| Sorghum | 247 | 221 t | 0.9 | 27th of 41 | 0.1% |
| Maize | 29,596 | 44,264 t | 1.5 | 28th of 47 | 1.2% |
| Dry beans | 11,975 | 6,252 t | 0.5 | 29th of 39 | 0.8% |
| Sweet potatoes | 60 | 313 t | 5.2 | 38th 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 Laikipia
Numbers kept in Laikipia in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy goats | 18,550 | 10th of 47 | 3.1% |
| Hair sheep | 374,340 | 13th of 47 | 1.7% |
| Wool sheep | 3,250 | 16th of 20 | 0.3% |
| Meat goats | 596,240 | 18th of 47 | 1.7% |
| Dairy cattle | 79,575 | 22nd of 47 | 1.4% |
| Beef cattle | 243,266 | 22nd of 47 | 1.5% |
| Beehives | 95,430 | 4th of 47 | 5.7% |
| Camels | 19,430 | 11th of 26 | 0.5% |
| Donkeys | 20,680 | 15th of 46 | 1.2% |
| Rabbits | 10,355 | 21st of 46 | 1.3% |
| Pigs | 5,990 | 23rd of 43 | 0.7% |
| Ducks | 12,930 | 10th of 45 | 2.5% |
| Turkeys | 5,470 | 12th of 44 | 2.3% |
| Geese | 4,590 | 15th of 43 | 2.3% |
| Broilers | 54,354 | 18th of 47 | 1.0% |
| Layers | 59,220 | 23rd of 47 | 0.9% |
| Indigenous chicken | 640,170 | 29th of 47 | 1.2% |
When to Plant in Laikipia
Laikipia 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 Laikipia
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Irish potatoes
Down 5% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Down 1% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Down 47% since 2019
tonnes
Sorghum
Down 60% 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 Laikipia
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Beehives
Laikipia recorded about 95,430 beehives in 2023. That ranks 4th of 47 counties and gives 5.7% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Other leading counties: Kitui, Baringo, Tharaka Nithi.
Irish potatoes
In 2023 Laikipia produced 47,857 tonnes of Irish potatoes. That ranks 10th of 28 counties and gives 2.1% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 6,099 ha, a yield of 7.8 t per ha. That is about 19% below the national average of 9.7. Output fell 5% 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.
Meat goats
Laikipia recorded about 596,240 meat goats in 2023. That ranks 18th of 47 counties and gives 1.7% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Hair sheep
Laikipia recorded about 374,340 hair sheep in 2023. That ranks 13th of 47 counties and gives 1.7% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Beef cattle
Laikipia recorded about 243,266 beef cattle in 2023. That ranks 22nd of 47 counties and gives 1.5% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Where to Sell in Laikipia
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 Laikipia
- 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 1 cooperative societies running 1 factories in Laikipia.
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Laikipia:
- Brookside (Nyahururu, Ngarua)
- New KCC (Nanyuki, historical entry)
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.
Livestock
No named livestock market is in our directory for Laikipia yet.
Ask the county livestock or veterinary office for market names and days. Never move animals without the right permits.
Fruit and vegetable exporters
Exporters and packhouses listed:
- The African Herb Co. Ltd
- Kenya Horticultural Exporters (Nanyuki packhouse)
Access: exporters usually buy under contract. Ask about grade, packaging and payment terms.
Know a buyer or a market in Laikipia 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 Laikipia
The national strategy backs these products in Laikipia. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Laikipia County
Laikipia is in the Central ASALs zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm. Parts of Laikipia are in AEZ Zone IV: semi-arid land with 500 to 1,000 mm of rain.
- Crops the zone favours
- Mostly pastoralism, with some maize on raised plateaus.
- Livestock and fish
- Beef cattle, goats and sheep.
- Rain and soil
- One season of rain at best. Salty, low-fertility soils.
- Farming households
- About 0.3 million farming households
- Typical rainfall
- 400 to 800 mm
- Typical farm size
- Group ranches
- 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 Laikipia’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 Laikipia
What crops grow best in Laikipia County?
Laikipia ranks 4th for beehives and 10th for Irish potatoes. The biggest crop areas are maize (29,596 ha), dry beans (11,975 ha), Irish potatoes (6,099 ha).
Which livestock is common in Laikipia County?
Laikipia ranks 4th for beehives, 10th for dairy goats, 10th for ducks. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Laikipia County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Laikipia above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Laikipia County in?
The national strategy places Laikipia in the Central ASALs zone. Our AEZ guide explains how zones, rain and soil shape what you can grow.
How do I work out profit in Laikipia 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 Laikipia
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 Laikipia
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 Laikipia: 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 Laikipia 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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