What to Farm in Mombasa County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Mombasa ranks 13th for broilers and 20th for cowpeas among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Mombasa Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Cowpeas
163 tonnes
20th of 37 counties
193 ha · 0.8 t per ha · 0.1% of Kenya
Meat goats
25,248 animals
45th of 47 counties
under 0.1% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Mombasa with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Mombasa: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Mombasa.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowpeas | 193 | 163 t | 0.8 | 20th of 37 | 0.1% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 57 | 39 t | 0.7 | 27th of 33 | <0.1% |
| Sweet potatoes | 30 | 331 t | 11.0 | 37th of 42 | <0.1% |
| Maize | 842 | 272 t | 0.3 | 43rd of 47 | <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 Mombasa
Numbers kept in Mombasa in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy cattle | 2,859 | 42nd of 47 | <0.1% |
| Meat goats | 25,248 | 45th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Dairy goats | 237 | 45th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Beef cattle | 7,482 | 46th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Hair sheep | 2,263 | 47th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Camels | 28 | 22nd of 26 | <0.1% |
| Pigs | 2,357 | 30th of 43 | 0.3% |
| Rabbits | 1,326 | 39th of 46 | 0.2% |
| Donkeys | 27 | 45th of 46 | <0.1% |
| Beehives | 625 | 47th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Quails | 1,770 | 6th of 19 | 5.8% |
| Broilers | 121,402 | 13th of 47 | 2.2% |
| Geese | 4,993 | 14th of 43 | 2.5% |
| Guinea fowl | 1,905 | 14th of 38 | 2.2% |
| Pigeons | 608 | 16th of 28 | 0.3% |
| Ducks | 6,130 | 23rd of 45 | 1.2% |
| Layers | 37,620 | 32nd of 47 | 0.6% |
| Turkeys | 778 | 32nd of 44 | 0.3% |
| Indigenous chicken | 78,819 | 45th of 47 | 0.1% |
When to Plant in Mombasa
Mombasa 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. Altitude changes the pattern inside a county, so ask your sub-county agricultural officer.
Five-Year Trends in Mombasa
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Cowpeas
Up 143% since 2019
tonnes
Sweet potatoes
Up 27% since 2019
tonnes
Green grams (ndengu)
Up 62% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Down 43% 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 Mombasa
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Broilers
Mombasa recorded about 121,402 broilers in 2023. That ranks 13th of 47 counties and gives 2.2% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Layers
Mombasa recorded about 37,620 layers in 2023. That ranks 32nd of 47 counties and gives 0.6% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Pigs
Mombasa recorded about 2,357 pigs in 2023. That ranks 30th of 43 counties and gives 0.3% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Indigenous chicken
Mombasa recorded about 78,819 indigenous chicken in 2023. That ranks 45th of 47 counties and gives 0.1% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Cowpeas
In 2023 Mombasa produced 163 tonnes of cowpeas. That ranks 20th of 37 counties and gives 0.1% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 193 ha, a yield of 0.8 t per ha. That is about 27% above the national average of 0.7. Output rose 143% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and October to November. Markets to check include Kongowea. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Where to Sell in Mombasa
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 Mombasa
- 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.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Mombasa:
- New KCC (Miritini)
- Italian Gelatti
Access: many outlets take milk only from registered members or suppliers. Ask about membership and price before you deliver.
Livestock
Kenya Meat Commission, Kibarani: serves the Coast. Confirm species, grades and intake days.
Ask the county livestock or veterinary office for market names and days. Never move animals without the right permits.
Fish
Landing points: Old Town, Tudor and coastal fish markets.
Processors listed:
- Crustacean Processors
- Coast Lamps Ltd
- Prime Aquatic and Pet Care Ltd
Produce markets
| Market | Commonly traded |
|---|---|
| Kongowea | major coastal fresh produce and food market |
Know a buyer or a market in Mombasa 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 Mombasa
The national strategy backs these products in Mombasa. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Mombasa County
Mombasa 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 Mombasa’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 Mombasa
What crops grow best in Mombasa County?
Mombasa ranks 13th for broilers and 20th for cowpeas. The biggest crop areas are maize (842 ha), cowpeas (193 ha), green grams (57 ha).
Which livestock is common in Mombasa County?
Mombasa ranks 6th for quails, 13th for broilers, 14th for geese. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Mombasa County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Mombasa above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Mombasa County in?
The national strategy places Mombasa 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 Mombasa 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 Mombasa
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Mombasa
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 Mombasa: 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 Mombasa 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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