What to Farm in Machakos County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Machakos ranks 3rd for pigeon peas and 3rd for cowpeas among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Machakos Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Pigeon peas
24,514 tonnes
3rd of 19 counties
59,450 ha · 0.4 t per ha · 13.3% of Kenya
Cowpeas
15,766 tonnes
3rd of 37 counties
27,263 ha · 0.6 t per ha · 10.0% of Kenya
Green grams (ndengu)
11,265 tonnes
3rd of 33 counties
24,280 ha · 0.5 t per ha · 6.6% of Kenya
Dry beans
53,826 tonnes
3rd of 39 counties
89,098 ha · 0.6 t per ha · 6.6% of Kenya
Maize
175,493 tonnes
6th of 47 counties
138,830 ha · 1.3 t per ha · 4.6% of Kenya
Indigenous chicken
2.4 million birds
7th of 47 counties
4.4% of Kenya
Macadamia
957 tonnes of nuts
8th of 12 counties
154 ha · 6.2 t per ha · 2.4% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Machakos with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Machakos: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Machakos.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macadamia | 154 | 957 t nuts | 6.2 | 8th of 12 | 2.4% |
| Coffee | Not given | 1,282 t clean coffee | Not given | 10th of 32 | 2.6% |
| Cotton | Not given | 7 bales of lint | Not given | 19th of 21 | <0.1% |
| Dry beans | 89,098 | 53,826 t | 0.6 | 3rd of 39 | 6.6% |
| Cowpeas | 27,263 | 15,766 t | 0.6 | 3rd of 37 | 10.0% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 24,280 | 11,265 t | 0.5 | 3rd of 33 | 6.6% |
| Pigeon peas | 59,450 | 24,514 t | 0.4 | 3rd of 19 | 13.3% |
| Maize | 138,830 | 175,493 t | 1.3 | 6th of 47 | 4.6% |
| Sorghum | 5,456 | 2,010 t | 0.4 | 14th of 41 | 1.0% |
| Finger millet | 249 | 170 t | 0.7 | 19th of 27 | 0.4% |
| Sweet potatoes | 813 | 3,426 t | 4.2 | 25th of 42 | 0.5% |
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 Machakos
Numbers kept in Machakos in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef cattle | 300,220 | 16th of 47 | 1.8% |
| Meat goats | 614,448 | 16th of 47 | 1.8% |
| Dairy goats | 8,143 | 16th of 47 | 1.3% |
| Hair sheep | 187,777 | 22nd of 47 | 0.9% |
| Dairy cattle | 65,010 | 24th of 47 | 1.2% |
| Rabbits | 26,897 | 9th of 46 | 3.4% |
| Beehives | 48,374 | 11th of 47 | 2.9% |
| Donkeys | 25,100 | 12th of 46 | 1.5% |
| Pigs | 10,627 | 18th of 43 | 1.3% |
| Camels | 190 | 21st of 26 | <0.1% |
| Layers | 468,386 | 3rd of 47 | 7.3% |
| Broilers | 446,989 | 4th of 47 | 8.1% |
| Indigenous chicken | 2.4 million | 7th of 47 | 4.4% |
| Turkeys | 4,560 | 15th of 44 | 1.9% |
| Guinea fowl | 1,420 | 17th of 38 | 1.7% |
| Ducks | 6,435 | 21st of 45 | 1.2% |
| Geese | 2,705 | 21st of 43 | 1.4% |
| Pigeons | 175 | 21st of 28 | <0.1% |
When to Plant in Machakos
Machakos 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 Machakos
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Pigeon peas
Up 130% since 2019
tonnes
Cowpeas
Up 18% since 2019
tonnes
Green grams (ndengu)
Up 28% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Up 79% 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 Machakos
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Pigeon peas
In 2023 Machakos produced 24,514 tonnes of pigeon peas. That ranks 3rd of 19 counties and gives 13.3% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 59,450 ha, a yield of 0.4 t per ha. That is about 33% below the national average of 0.6. Output rose 130% 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.
Cowpeas
In 2023 Machakos produced 15,766 tonnes of cowpeas. That ranks 3rd of 37 counties and gives 10.0% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 27,263 ha, a yield of 0.6 t per ha. That is about 13% below the national average of 0.7. Output rose 18% 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.
Layers
Machakos recorded about 468,386 layers in 2023. That ranks 3rd of 47 counties and gives 7.3% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Green grams (ndengu)
In 2023 Machakos produced 11,265 tonnes of green grams. That ranks 3rd of 33 counties and gives 6.6% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 24,280 ha, a yield of 0.5 t per ha. That is about 24% below the national average of 0.6. Output rose 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.
Dry beans
In 2023 Machakos produced 53,826 tonnes of dry beans. That ranks 3rd of 39 counties and gives 6.6% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 89,098 ha, a yield of 0.6 t per ha. That is about 13% below the national average of 0.7. Output rose 79% 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.
Other leading counties: Nakuru, Meru, Trans Nzoia.
Coffee
In 2023 Machakos produced 1,282 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 10th of 32 counties and gives 2.6% of Kenya's output. Output fell 50% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 26 cooperative societies and 47 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Where to Sell in Machakos
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 Machakos
- 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 26 cooperative societies running 47 factories in Machakos.
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Livestock
Kenya Meat Commission, Athi River: buys cattle, sheep and goats. Confirm the current intake schedule with its procurement desk.
Ask the county livestock or veterinary office for market names and days. Never move animals without the right permits.
Fruit and vegetable exporters
Exporters and packhouses listed:
- Interveg Exports EPZ (Athi River)
Access: exporters usually buy under contract. Ask about grade, packaging and payment terms.
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 Machakos 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 Machakos
The national strategy backs these products in Machakos. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Machakos County
Machakos is in the Semi-Arid Uplands zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm. Parts of Machakos are in AEZ Zone IV: semi-arid land with 500 to 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 Machakos’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 Machakos
What crops grow best in Machakos County?
Machakos ranks 3rd for pigeon peas and 3rd for cowpeas. The biggest crop areas are maize (138,830 ha), dry beans (89,098 ha), pigeon peas (59,450 ha).
Which livestock is common in Machakos County?
Machakos ranks 3rd for layers, 4th for broilers, 7th for indigenous chicken. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Machakos County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Machakos above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Machakos County in?
The national strategy places Machakos 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 Machakos 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 Machakos
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Machakos
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 Machakos: 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 Machakos 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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