What to Farm in Kitui County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Kitui ranks 1st for green grams and 1st for sorghum among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Kitui Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Green grams (ndengu)
79,435 tonnes
1st of 33 counties
113,479 ha · 0.7 t per ha · 46.6% of Kenya
Sorghum
37,325 tonnes
1st of 41 counties
68,755 ha · 0.5 t per ha · 19.0% of Kenya
Cowpeas
50,587 tonnes
2nd of 37 counties
79,095 ha · 0.6 t per ha · 32.1% of Kenya
Indigenous chicken
4.1 million birds
3rd of 47 counties
7.5% of Kenya
Pigeon peas
21,680 tonnes
4th of 19 counties
42,870 ha · 0.5 t per ha · 11.8% of Kenya
Meat goats
2 million animals
4th of 47 counties
5.8% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Kitui with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Kitui: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Kitui.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Not given | 201 bales of lint | Not given | 7th of 21 | 2.9% |
| Sorghum | 68,755 | 37,325 t | 0.5 | 1st of 41 | 19.0% |
| Pearl millet | 49,670 | 22,292 t | 0.4 | 1st of 5 | 47.1% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 113,479 | 79,435 t | 0.7 | 1st of 33 | 46.6% |
| Cowpeas | 79,095 | 50,587 t | 0.6 | 2nd of 37 | 32.1% |
| Pigeon peas | 42,870 | 21,680 t | 0.5 | 4th of 19 | 11.8% |
| Dry beans | 33,024 | 10,948 t | 0.3 | 24th of 39 | 1.3% |
| Sweet potatoes | 450 | 2,062 t | 4.6 | 30th of 42 | 0.3% |
| Maize | 83,618 | 36,292 t | 0.4 | 31st of 47 | 1.0% |
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 Kitui
Numbers kept in Kitui in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meat goats | 2 million | 4th of 47 | 5.8% |
| Beef cattle | 602,505 | 5th of 47 | 3.7% |
| Dairy goats | 7,032 | 19th of 47 | 1.2% |
| Hair sheep | 131,486 | 27th of 47 | 0.6% |
| Dairy cattle | 10,564 | 37th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Beehives | 227,829 | 1st of 47 | 13.6% |
| Donkeys | 326,095 | 2nd of 46 | 18.9% |
| Rabbits | 19,712 | 14th of 46 | 2.5% |
| Pigs | 3,595 | 25th of 43 | 0.4% |
| Geese | 17,080 | 1st of 43 | 8.6% |
| Indigenous chicken | 4.1 million | 3rd of 47 | 7.5% |
| Layers | 452,859 | 4th of 47 | 7.1% |
| Turkeys | 23,129 | 4th of 44 | 9.8% |
| Pigeons | 12,552 | 4th of 28 | 5.6% |
| Guinea fowl | 3,902 | 6th of 38 | 4.5% |
| Ducks | 17,002 | 8th of 45 | 3.2% |
| Broilers | 22,743 | 27th of 47 | 0.4% |
When to Plant in Kitui
Kitui 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. Altitude changes the pattern inside a county, so ask your sub-county agricultural officer.
Five-Year Trends in Kitui
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Green grams (ndengu)
Down 8% since 2019
tonnes
Cowpeas
Down 28% since 2019
tonnes
Sorghum
Down 70% since 2019
tonnes
Pigeon peas
Down 6% 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 Kitui
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Green grams (ndengu)
In 2023 Kitui produced 79,435 tonnes of green grams. That ranks 1st of 33 counties and gives 46.6% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 113,479 ha, a yield of 0.7 t per ha. That is about 15% above the national average of 0.6. Output fell 8% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and October to November. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Sorghum
In 2023 Kitui produced 37,325 tonnes of sorghum. That ranks 1st of 41 counties and gives 19.0% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 68,755 ha, a yield of 0.5 t per ha. That is about 43% below the national average of 1.0. Output fell 70% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and October to November. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Beehives
Kitui recorded about 227,829 beehives in 2023. That ranks 1st of 47 counties and gives 13.6% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Other leading counties: Baringo, Tharaka Nithi, Laikipia.
Cowpeas
In 2023 Kitui produced 50,587 tonnes of cowpeas. That ranks 2nd of 37 counties and gives 32.1% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 79,095 ha, a yield of 0.6 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 0.7. Output fell 28% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and October to November. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Donkeys
Kitui recorded about 326,095 donkeys in 2023. That ranks 2nd of 46 counties and gives 18.9% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Where to Sell in Kitui
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 Kitui
- 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
Kitui has one of the densest livestock market networks in Kenya, per a SPARC national mapping.
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.
Know a buyer or a market in Kitui 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 Kitui
The national strategy backs these products in Kitui. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Kitui County
Kitui is in the Semi-Arid Uplands zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm.
- 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 Kitui’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 Kitui
What crops grow best in Kitui County?
Kitui ranks 1st for green grams and 1st for sorghum. The biggest crop areas are green grams (113,479 ha), maize (83,618 ha), cowpeas (79,095 ha).
Which livestock is common in Kitui County?
Kitui ranks 1st for beehives, 1st for geese, 2nd for donkeys. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Kitui County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Kitui above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Kitui County in?
The national strategy places Kitui 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 Kitui 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 Kitui
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Kitui
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 Kitui: 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 Kitui 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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