What to Farm in Isiolo County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Isiolo ranks 6th for hair sheep and 7th for camels among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Isiolo Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Camels
162,516 animals
7th of 26 counties
3.8% of Kenya
Meat goats
1.1 million animals
7th of 47 counties
3.2% of Kenya
Beef cattle
166,184 animals
28th of 47 counties
1.0% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Isiolo with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Isiolo: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Isiolo.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Not given | 3 bales of lint | Not given | 20th of 21 | <0.1% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 47 | 27 t | 0.6 | 29th of 33 | <0.1% |
| Cowpeas | 27 | 8 t | 0.3 | 36th of 37 | <0.1% |
| Dry beans | 114 | 42 t | 0.4 | 37th of 39 | <0.1% |
| Sweet potatoes | 32 | 253 t | 7.9 | 39th of 42 | <0.1% |
| Maize | 256 | 176 t | 0.7 | 45th 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 Isiolo
Numbers kept in Isiolo in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair sheep | 883,010 | 6th of 47 | 4.0% |
| Meat goats | 1.1 million | 7th of 47 | 3.2% |
| Beef cattle | 166,184 | 28th of 47 | 1.0% |
| Dairy goats | 1,255 | 39th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Dairy cattle | 6,764 | 40th of 47 | 0.1% |
| Camels | 162,516 | 7th of 26 | 3.8% |
| Donkeys | 39,283 | 9th of 46 | 2.3% |
| Beehives | 14,805 | 32nd of 47 | 0.9% |
| Pigs | 476 | 39th of 43 | <0.1% |
| Rabbits | 824 | 40th of 46 | 0.1% |
| Pigeons | 220 | 20th of 28 | <0.1% |
| Broilers | 14,539 | 30th of 47 | 0.3% |
| Guinea fowl | 324 | 31st of 38 | 0.4% |
| Layers | 29,068 | 35th of 47 | 0.5% |
| Turkeys | 120 | 41st of 44 | <0.1% |
| Geese | 326 | 41st of 43 | 0.2% |
| Ducks | 234 | 42nd of 45 | <0.1% |
| Indigenous chicken | 105,077 | 44th of 47 | 0.2% |
When to Plant in Isiolo
Kenya has long rains from March to May and short rains from late October to December. We have no settled pattern for Isiolo, so plan around these two rainy periods.
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 Isiolo
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Green grams (ndengu)
Down 39% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Down 47% since 2019
tonnes
Cowpeas
Down 94% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Down 77% 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 Isiolo
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Hair sheep
Isiolo recorded about 883,010 hair sheep in 2023. That ranks 6th of 47 counties and gives 4.0% of Kenya's total. Animals can go to livestock markets, traders or abattoirs. See the buyers section below.
Camels
Isiolo recorded about 162,516 camels in 2023. That ranks 7th of 26 counties and gives 3.8% of Kenya's total. Animals can go to livestock markets, traders or abattoirs. See the buyers section below.
Meat goats
Isiolo recorded about 1.1 million meat goats in 2023. That ranks 7th of 47 counties and gives 3.2% of Kenya's total. Animals can go to livestock markets, traders or abattoirs. See the buyers section below.
Donkeys
Isiolo recorded about 39,283 donkeys in 2023. That ranks 9th of 46 counties and gives 2.3% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Beef cattle
Isiolo recorded about 166,184 beef cattle in 2023. That ranks 28th of 47 counties and gives 1.0% of Kenya's total. Animals can go to livestock markets, traders or abattoirs. See the buyers section below.
Where to Sell in Isiolo
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 Isiolo
- 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.
Livestock
Livestock markets listed: Isiolo Town (livestock trading); Merti (livestock trading).
Isiolo International Abattoir: an export abattoir. Confirm it is slaughtering before you count on it.
Ask the county livestock or veterinary office for market names and days. Never move animals without the right permits.
Produce markets
| Market | Commonly traded |
|---|---|
| Isiolo Town | livestock, miraa, maize, beans, vegetables |
| Merti | livestock, dates, beans, maize, vegetables |
Know a buyer or a market in Isiolo 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 Isiolo
The national strategy backs these products in Isiolo. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Isiolo County
Isiolo is in the Central ASALs zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm.
- 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 Isiolo’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 Isiolo
What crops grow best in Isiolo County?
Isiolo ranks 6th for hair sheep and 7th for camels. The biggest crop areas are maize (256 ha), dry beans (114 ha), green grams (47 ha).
Which livestock is common in Isiolo County?
Isiolo ranks 6th for hair sheep, 7th for camels, 7th for meat goats. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Isiolo County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Isiolo above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Isiolo County in?
The national strategy places Isiolo 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 Isiolo 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 Isiolo
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 Isiolo
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 Isiolo: 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 Isiolo 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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