What to Farm in Marsabit County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Marsabit ranks 6th for camels and 7th for donkeys among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Marsabit Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Camels
183,388 animals
6th of 26 counties
4.3% of Kenya
Meat goats
627,253 animals
15th of 47 counties
1.8% of Kenya
Beef cattle
113,932 animals
33rd of 47 counties
0.7% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Marsabit with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Marsabit: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Marsabit.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green grams (ndengu) | 146 | 78 t | 0.5 | 24th of 33 | <0.1% |
| Cowpeas | 112 | 60 t | 0.5 | 27th of 37 | <0.1% |
| Sorghum | 106 | 140 t | 1.3 | 33rd of 41 | <0.1% |
| Dry beans | 476 | 226 t | 0.5 | 36th of 39 | <0.1% |
| Maize | 2,184 | 337 t | 0.2 | 42nd 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 Marsabit
Numbers kept in Marsabit in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair sheep | 532,550 | 10th of 47 | 2.4% |
| Meat goats | 627,253 | 15th of 47 | 1.8% |
| Beef cattle | 113,932 | 33rd of 47 | 0.7% |
| Dairy cattle | 396 | 43rd of 47 | <0.1% |
| Dairy goats | 374 | 43rd of 47 | <0.1% |
| Camels | 183,388 | 6th of 26 | 4.3% |
| Donkeys | 72,968 | 7th of 46 | 4.2% |
| Beehives | 5,643 | 38th of 47 | 0.3% |
| Rabbits | 80 | 44th of 46 | <0.1% |
| Guinea fowl | 8 | 38th of 38 | <0.1% |
| Layers | 8,630 | 44th of 47 | 0.1% |
| Turkeys | 17 | 44th of 44 | <0.1% |
| Broilers | 680 | 45th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Ducks | 15 | 45th of 45 | <0.1% |
| Indigenous chicken | 75,506 | 46th of 47 | 0.1% |
When to Plant in Marsabit
Kenya has long rains from March to May and short rains from late October to December. We have no settled pattern for Marsabit, 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 Marsabit
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Sorghum
Up 775% since 2019
tonnes
Green grams (ndengu)
Up 388% since 2019
tonnes
Cowpeas
Up 131% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Up 46% 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 Marsabit
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Camels
Marsabit recorded about 183,388 camels in 2023. That ranks 6th of 26 counties and gives 4.3% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Donkeys
Marsabit recorded about 72,968 donkeys in 2023. That ranks 7th of 46 counties and gives 4.2% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Hair sheep
Marsabit recorded about 532,550 hair sheep in 2023. That ranks 10th of 47 counties and gives 2.4% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Meat goats
Marsabit recorded about 627,253 meat goats in 2023. That ranks 15th of 47 counties and gives 1.8% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Beef cattle
Marsabit recorded about 113,932 beef cattle in 2023. That ranks 33rd of 47 counties and gives 0.7% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Where to Sell in Marsabit
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 Marsabit
- 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.
No named buyers yet
Our directory has no verified outlet for Marsabit. That does not mean there are none. Use the steps below to find them.
Livestock
No named livestock market is in our directory for Marsabit yet.
Ask the county livestock or veterinary office for market names and days. Never move animals without the right permits.
Know a buyer or a market in Marsabit 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 Marsabit
The national strategy backs these products in Marsabit. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Horticulture, Beef, Fish.
Rain and Soil in Marsabit County
Marsabit is in the Northern ASALs zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm. Parts of Marsabit are in AEZ Zone VI: very arid land with 200 to 400 mm of rain.
- Crops the zone favours
- Mostly pastoralism, with some maize on raised plateaus.
- Livestock and fish
- Camels, goats and sheep.
- Rain and soil
- One season of rain at best. Sandy, salty, low-fertility soils.
- Farming households
- About 0.4 million farming households
- Typical rainfall
- under 200 to 600 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 Marsabit’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 Marsabit
What crops grow best in Marsabit County?
Marsabit ranks 6th for camels and 7th for donkeys. The biggest crop areas are maize (2,184 ha), dry beans (476 ha), green grams (146 ha).
Which livestock is common in Marsabit County?
Marsabit ranks 6th for camels, 7th for donkeys, 10th for hair sheep. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Marsabit County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Marsabit above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Marsabit County in?
The national strategy places Marsabit in the Northern ASALs zone. Our AEZ guide explains how zones, rain and soil shape what you can grow.
How do I work out profit in Marsabit 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 Marsabit
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 Marsabit
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 Marsabit: 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 Marsabit 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 Marsabit?
Tell an Agcenture adviser your land size and budget. We help you pick a product, find buyers and plan the money.