What to Farm in Embu County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Embu ranks 3rd for macadamia and 4th for cowpeas among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Embu Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Macadamia
5,337 tonnes of nuts
3rd of 12 counties
1,101 ha · 4.8 t per ha · 13.1% of Kenya
Cowpeas
9,142 tonnes
4th of 37 counties
9,302 ha · 1.0 t per ha · 5.8% of Kenya
Green grams (ndengu)
6,025 tonnes
6th of 33 counties
12,042 ha · 0.5 t per ha · 3.5% of Kenya
Sorghum
6,491 tonnes
8th of 41 counties
3,857 ha · 1.7 t per ha · 3.3% of Kenya
Pigeon peas
282 tonnes
8th of 19 counties
1,720 ha · 0.2 t per ha · 0.2% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Embu with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Embu: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Embu.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macadamia | 1,101 | 5,337 t nuts | 4.8 | 3rd of 12 | 13.1% |
| Coffee | Not given | 1,932 t clean coffee | Not given | 8th of 32 | 4.0% |
| Tea | 4,627 | 13,151 t made tea | 2.8 | 11th of 15 | 2.3% |
| Cotton | Not given | 48 bales of lint | Not given | 14th of 21 | 0.7% |
| Pearl millet | 6,627 | 9,557 t | 1.4 | 2nd of 5 | 20.2% |
| Cowpeas | 9,302 | 9,142 t | 1.0 | 4th of 37 | 5.8% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 12,042 | 6,025 t | 0.5 | 6th of 33 | 3.5% |
| Sorghum | 3,857 | 6,491 t | 1.7 | 8th of 41 | 3.3% |
| Pigeon peas | 1,720 | 282 t | 0.2 | 8th of 19 | 0.2% |
| Sweet potatoes | 397 | 4,247 t | 10.7 | 21st of 42 | 0.6% |
| Irish potatoes | 295 | 2,101 t | 7.1 | 22nd of 28 | <0.1% |
| Dry beans | 21,380 | 10,308 t | 0.5 | 26th of 39 | 1.3% |
| Maize | 34,500 | 41,327 t | 1.2 | 29th of 47 | 1.1% |
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 Embu
Numbers kept in Embu in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy goats | 49,927 | 4th of 47 | 8.3% |
| Dairy cattle | 134,493 | 17th of 47 | 2.4% |
| Beef cattle | 200,678 | 26th of 47 | 1.2% |
| Meat goats | 337,374 | 26th of 47 | 1.0% |
| Hair sheep | 57,919 | 37th of 47 | 0.3% |
| Beehives | 56,790 | 6th of 47 | 3.4% |
| Rabbits | 31,192 | 7th of 46 | 4.0% |
| Pigs | 28,833 | 8th of 43 | 3.4% |
| Camels | 11,851 | 13th of 26 | 0.3% |
| Donkeys | 6 | 46th of 46 | <0.1% |
| Layers | 70,363 | 19th of 47 | 1.1% |
| Ducks | 6,521 | 20th of 45 | 1.2% |
| Turkeys | 1,634 | 21st of 44 | 0.7% |
| Guinea fowl | 984 | 21st of 38 | 1.1% |
| Broilers | 25,622 | 22nd of 47 | 0.5% |
| Geese | 2,105 | 24th of 43 | 1.1% |
| Indigenous chicken | 629,057 | 30th of 47 | 1.2% |
When to Plant in Embu
Embu 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. In the Eastern region the short rains are the most reliable.
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 Embu
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Cowpeas
Up 84% since 2019
tonnes
Coffee
Down 14% since 18/19
tonnes of clean coffee
Green grams (ndengu)
Up 7% since 2019
tonnes
Sorghum
Down 22% 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 Embu
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Macadamia
In 2023 Embu produced 5,337 tonnes of macadamia nuts. That ranks 3rd of 12 counties and gives 13.1% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 1,101 ha, a yield of 4.8 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 5.1. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Cowpeas
In 2023 Embu produced 9,142 tonnes of cowpeas. That ranks 4th of 37 counties and gives 5.8% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 9,302 ha, a yield of 1.0 t per ha. That is about 47% above the national average of 0.7. Output rose 84% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and October to November. Markets to check include Embu Town, Ishiara, Kibugu. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Green grams (ndengu)
In 2023 Embu produced 6,025 tonnes of green grams. That ranks 6th of 33 counties and gives 3.5% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 12,042 ha, a yield of 0.5 t per ha. That is about 18% below the national average of 0.6. Output rose 7% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and October to November. Markets to check include Embu Town, Ishiara, Kibugu. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Beehives
Embu recorded about 56,790 beehives in 2023. That ranks 6th of 47 counties and gives 3.4% 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.
Coffee
In 2023 Embu produced 1,932 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 8th of 32 counties and gives 4.0% of Kenya's output. Output fell 14% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 24 cooperative societies and 57 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Tea
In 2023 Embu produced 13,151 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 11th of 15 counties and gives 2.3% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 4,627 ha, a yield of 2.8 t per ha. That is about 14% above the national average of 2.5. Output rose 10% 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 Embu
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 Embu
- 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 24 cooperative societies running 57 factories in Embu.
Millers named for the area:
- Embu County Coffee Mill Cooperative Society
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Embu:
- New KCC (Ngariama, Kanyekine, Kianjokoma, Runyenjes)
- Superior Highland Dairy
- Gakundu Dairy Farmers
- Rungeto Dairy Farmers
- Kithimu Dairy Farmers
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 Embu yet.
Ask the county livestock or veterinary office for market names and days. Never move animals without the right permits.
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 |
|---|---|
| Embu Town | tea, coffee, macadamia, bananas, beans, maize |
| Ishiara | maize, beans, sorghum, green grams, cowpeas |
| Kibugu | coffee, tea, bananas, beans, macadamia |
| Runyenjes | coffee, bananas, beans, maize, potatoes |
| Siakago | maize, beans, sorghum, millet, cowpeas |
Know a buyer or a market in Embu 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 Embu
The national strategy backs these products in Embu. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Embu County
Embu is in the Semi-Arid Uplands zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm. Parts of Embu are in AEZ Zone II: high potential land with at least 1,000 mm of rain.
- Crops the zone favours
- Dryland crops such as sorghum and peas.
- Livestock and fish
- Beef cattle.
- Rain and soil
- One season of low rain. Acidic soils of low to medium fertility.
- Farming households
- About 0.5 million farming households
- Typical rainfall
- 600 to 1,200 mm
- Typical farm size
- 2 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 Embu’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 Embu
What crops grow best in Embu County?
Embu ranks 3rd for macadamia and 4th for cowpeas. The biggest crop areas are maize (34,500 ha), dry beans (21,380 ha), green grams (12,042 ha).
Which livestock is common in Embu County?
Embu ranks 4th for dairy goats, 6th for beehives, 7th for rabbits. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Embu County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Embu above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Embu County in?
The national strategy places Embu in the Semi-Arid Uplands zone. Our AEZ guide explains how zones, rain and soil shape what you can grow.
How do I work out profit in Embu 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 Embu
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Embu
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 Embu: 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 Embu 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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