What to Farm in Bomet County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Bomet ranks 1st for tea and 4th for finger millet among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Bomet Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Tea
110,666 tonnes of made tea
1st of 15 counties
45,375 ha · 2.4 t per ha · 19.6% of Kenya
Finger millet
3,314 tonnes
4th of 27 counties
5,822 ha · 0.6 t per ha · 8.4% of Kenya
Dairy cattle
329,946 animals
5th of 47 counties
6.0% of Kenya
Maize
63,230 tonnes
23rd of 47 counties
27,250 ha · 2.3 t per ha · 1.7% of Kenya
Irish potatoes
37,383 tonnes
11th of 28 counties
3,935 ha · 9.5 t per ha · 1.6% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Bomet with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Bomet: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Bomet.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tea | 45,375 | 110,666 t made tea | 2.4 | 1st of 15 | 19.6% |
| Coffee | Not given | 39 t clean coffee | Not given | 24th of 32 | <0.1% |
| Finger millet | 5,822 | 3,314 t | 0.6 | 4th of 27 | 8.4% |
| Irish potatoes | 3,935 | 37,383 t | 9.5 | 11th of 28 | 1.6% |
| Sorghum | 734 | 1,148 t | 1.6 | 17th of 41 | 0.6% |
| Sweet potatoes | 782 | 4,152 t | 5.3 | 22nd of 42 | 0.6% |
| Maize | 27,250 | 63,230 t | 2.3 | 23rd of 47 | 1.7% |
| Dry beans | 12,803 | 12,377 t | 1.0 | 23rd of 39 | 1.5% |
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 Bomet
Numbers kept in Bomet in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy goats | 82,762 | 1st of 47 | 13.7% |
| Dairy cattle | 329,946 | 5th of 47 | 6.0% |
| Wool sheep | 88,850 | 5th of 20 | 7.0% |
| Hair sheep | 77,249 | 33rd of 47 | 0.4% |
| Meat goats | 73,594 | 38th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Beef cattle | 7,947 | 45th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Beehives | 25,253 | 16th of 47 | 1.5% |
| Donkeys | 9,895 | 20th of 46 | 0.6% |
| Rabbits | 6,685 | 24th of 46 | 0.9% |
| Pigs | 358 | 40th of 43 | <0.1% |
| Layers | 96,343 | 16th of 47 | 1.5% |
| Indigenous chicken | 961,090 | 19th of 47 | 1.8% |
| Turkeys | 2,056 | 19th of 44 | 0.9% |
| Geese | 2,255 | 23rd of 43 | 1.1% |
| Broilers | 13,851 | 31st of 47 | 0.3% |
| Ducks | 2,172 | 33rd of 45 | 0.4% |
When to Plant in Bomet
Bomet is in a relay-planting area. Two seasons with relay planting. Plant January to February and harvest July to August. Some farmers replant April to May, and some plant again September to October.
Darker blocks are the main planting months. Lighter blocks are months some farmers also plant.
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 Bomet
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Tea
Up 37% since 2019
tonnes of made tea
Finger millet
Up 7% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Down 15% since 2019
tonnes
Irish potatoes
Down 10% 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 Bomet
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Tea
In 2023 Bomet produced 110,666 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 1st of 15 counties and gives 19.6% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 45,375 ha, a yield of 2.4 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 2.5. Output rose 37% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Bomet growers deliver to KTDA western region factories. Check the exact factory for your ward with your tea society.
Finger millet
In 2023 Bomet produced 3,314 tonnes of finger millet. That ranks 4th of 27 counties and gives 8.4% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 5,822 ha, a yield of 0.6 t per ha. That is about 30% below the national average of 0.8. Output rose 7% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in January to February. Markets to check include Bomet Town, Longisa, Mulot. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Dairy cattle
Bomet recorded about 329,946 dairy cattle in 2023. That ranks 5th of 47 counties and gives 6.0% of Kenya's total. Milk outlets include Brookside (Sotik), Bomet Dairy Farmers' Cooperative, Chepalungu Dairy Cooperative. Most accept milk only from registered members or suppliers.
Indigenous chicken
Bomet recorded about 961,090 indigenous chicken in 2023. That ranks 19th of 47 counties and gives 1.8% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Maize
In 2023 Bomet produced 63,230 tonnes of maize. That ranks 23rd of 47 counties and gives 1.7% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 27,250 ha, a yield of 2.3 t per ha. That is about 42% above the national average of 1.6. Output fell 15% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in January to February. Markets to check include Bomet Town, Longisa, Mulot. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Other leading counties: Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Narok.
Where to Sell in Bomet
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 Bomet
- 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
Bomet growers deliver to KTDA western region factories. Check the exact factory for your ward with your tea society.
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 8 cooperative societies running 8 factories in Bomet.
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Bomet:
- Brookside (Sotik)
- Bomet Dairy Farmers' Cooperative
- Chepalungu Dairy Cooperative
- Siongiroi Dairy Plant
- Longisa Dairy Cooperative
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.
Produce markets
| Market | Commonly traded |
|---|---|
| Bomet Town | maize, beans, potatoes, tea, milk |
| Longisa | maize, beans, potatoes, vegetables |
| Mulot | maize, wheat, potatoes, beans |
| Sotik | maize, beans, avocados, potatoes |
Know a buyer or a market in Bomet 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 Bomet
The national strategy backs these products in Bomet. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Bomet County
Bomet is in the Western zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm. Parts of Bomet 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 Bomet’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 Bomet
What crops grow best in Bomet County?
Bomet ranks 1st for tea and 4th for finger millet. The biggest crop areas are tea (45,375 ha), maize (27,250 ha), dry beans (12,803 ha).
Which livestock is common in Bomet County?
Bomet ranks 1st for dairy goats, 5th for wool sheep, 5th for dairy cattle. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Bomet County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Bomet above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Bomet County in?
The national strategy places Bomet 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 Bomet 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 Bomet
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 Bomet
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 Bomet: 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 Bomet 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 Bomet?
Tell an Agcenture adviser your land size and budget. We help you pick a product, find buyers and plan the money.