What to Farm in Meru County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Meru ranks 2nd for macadamia and 2nd for sorghum among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Meru Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Macadamia
7,530 tonnes of nuts
2nd of 12 counties
1,390 ha · 5.4 t per ha · 18.5% of Kenya
Sorghum
34,340 tonnes
2nd of 41 counties
10,897 ha · 3.2 t per ha · 17.4% of Kenya
Pigeon peas
30,929 tonnes
2nd of 19 counties
39,702 ha · 0.8 t per ha · 16.8% of Kenya
Dry beans
54,244 tonnes
2nd of 39 counties
131,624 ha · 0.4 t per ha · 6.6% of Kenya
Irish potatoes
236,407 tonnes
4th of 28 counties
24,604 ha · 9.6 t per ha · 10.2% of Kenya
Green grams (ndengu)
7,323 tonnes
5th of 33 counties
13,561 ha · 0.5 t per ha · 4.3% of Kenya
Finger millet
2,941 tonnes
6th of 27 counties
5,881 ha · 0.5 t per ha · 7.5% of Kenya
Tea
32,777 tonnes of made tea
7th of 15 counties
12,633 ha · 2.6 t per ha · 5.8% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Meru with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Meru: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Meru.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macadamia | 1,390 | 7,530 t nuts | 5.4 | 2nd of 12 | 18.5% |
| Cotton | Not given | 439 bales of lint | Not given | 3rd of 21 | 6.3% |
| Tea | 12,633 | 32,777 t made tea | 2.6 | 7th of 15 | 5.8% |
| Coffee | Not given | 2,366 t clean coffee | Not given | 7th of 32 | 4.9% |
| Sorghum | 10,897 | 34,340 t | 3.2 | 2nd of 41 | 17.4% |
| Dry beans | 131,624 | 54,244 t | 0.4 | 2nd of 39 | 6.6% |
| Pigeon peas | 39,702 | 30,929 t | 0.8 | 2nd of 19 | 16.8% |
| Pearl millet | 8,016 | 7,672 t | 1.0 | 4th of 5 | 16.2% |
| Irish potatoes | 24,604 | 236,407 t | 9.6 | 4th of 28 | 10.2% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 13,561 | 7,323 t | 0.5 | 5th of 33 | 4.3% |
| Finger millet | 5,881 | 2,941 t | 0.5 | 6th of 27 | 7.5% |
| Maize | 142,379 | 151,039 t | 1.1 | 7th of 47 | 4.0% |
| Cowpeas | 8,993 | 3,893 t | 0.4 | 7th of 37 | 2.5% |
| Sweet potatoes | 1,308 | 18,099 t | 13.8 | 8th of 42 | 2.7% |
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 Meru
Numbers kept in Meru in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy goats | 38,820 | 6th of 47 | 6.4% |
| Wool sheep | 32,310 | 9th of 20 | 2.5% |
| Dairy cattle | 227,370 | 10th of 47 | 4.1% |
| Beef cattle | 221,080 | 25th of 47 | 1.4% |
| Meat goats | 229,880 | 28th of 47 | 0.7% |
| Hair sheep | 77,240 | 34th of 47 | 0.4% |
| Pigs | 42,070 | 7th of 43 | 5.0% |
| Rabbits | 25,660 | 10th of 46 | 3.3% |
| Beehives | 39,130 | 13th of 47 | 2.3% |
| Camels | 2,380 | 17th of 26 | <0.1% |
| Donkeys | 5,750 | 24th of 46 | 0.3% |
| Indigenous chicken | 1.4 million | 10th of 47 | 2.7% |
| Layers | 128,280 | 12th of 47 | 2.0% |
| Guinea fowl | 2,080 | 13th of 38 | 2.4% |
| Broilers | 65,250 | 17th of 47 | 1.2% |
| Turkeys | 1,200 | 25th of 44 | 0.5% |
| Geese | 1,615 | 29th of 43 | 0.8% |
| Ducks | 3,520 | 30th of 45 | 0.7% |
When to Plant in Meru
Meru is in a one-season area. One main season. Plant in March to April and harvest in November to December.
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 Meru
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Sorghum
Up 244% since 2019
tonnes
Pigeon peas
Up 77% since 2019
tonnes
Irish potatoes
Up 82% since 2019
tonnes
Finger millet
Down 64% 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 Meru
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Macadamia
In 2023 Meru produced 7,530 tonnes of macadamia nuts. That ranks 2nd of 12 counties and gives 18.5% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 1,390 ha, a yield of 5.4 t per ha. That is about 7% above 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.
Sorghum
In 2023 Meru produced 34,340 tonnes of sorghum. That ranks 2nd of 41 counties and gives 17.4% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 10,897 ha, a reported yield of 3.2 t per ha. The national average is 1.0, so treat the gap with care. Output rose 244% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Pigeon peas
In 2023 Meru produced 30,929 tonnes of pigeon peas. That ranks 2nd of 19 counties and gives 16.8% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 39,702 ha, a yield of 0.8 t per ha. That is about 27% above the national average of 0.6. Output rose 77% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Dry beans
In 2023 Meru produced 54,244 tonnes of dry beans. That ranks 2nd of 39 counties and gives 6.6% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 131,624 ha, a yield of 0.4 t per ha. That is about 41% below the national average of 0.7. Output rose 51% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Other leading counties: Nakuru, Machakos, Trans Nzoia.
Irish potatoes
In 2023 Meru produced 236,407 tonnes of Irish potatoes. That ranks 4th of 28 counties and gives 10.2% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 24,604 ha, a yield of 9.6 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 9.7. Output rose 82% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Other leading counties: Nakuru, Nyandarua, Elgeyo Marakwet.
Tea
In 2023 Meru produced 32,777 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 7th of 15 counties and gives 5.8% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 12,633 ha, a yield of 2.6 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 2.5. Output rose 20% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Green leaf goes to KTDA factories such as Weru, Kinoro, Kionyo. Join through your factory company.
Coffee
In 2023 Meru produced 2,366 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 7th of 32 counties and gives 4.9% of Kenya's output. Output rose 49% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 50 cooperative societies and 125 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Where to Sell in Meru
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 Meru
- 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.
Tea
KTDA factories listed for Meru:
- Weru
- Kinoro
- Kionyo
- Imenti
- Githongo
- Igembe
- Michimikuru
- Kiegoi
Access: factories take leaf from registered growers in their catchment. Confirm the catchment, registration steps and collection point first.
Coffee
The Coffee Directorate Year Book 2022/23 records 50 cooperative societies running 125 factories in Meru.
Millers named for the area:
- Meru County Coffee Millers Cooperative Union
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Meru:
- Meru Central Dairy Cooperative Union
- Meru Highlands Dairy
- Chure Dairy Cooperative
- Naari Dairy
Access: many outlets take milk only from registered members or suppliers. Ask about membership and price before you deliver.
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 Meru 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 Meru
The national strategy backs these products in Meru. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Meru County
Meru is in the Central Highlands zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm. Parts of Meru are in AEZ Zone II: high potential land with at least 1,000 mm of rain.
- Crops the zone favours
- Coffee, tea, Irish potatoes, French beans, bananas and tomatoes.
- Livestock and fish
- Dairy cattle and poultry.
- Rain and soil
- Two seasons of high rain. Deep, very fertile red soils.
- Farming households
- About 1 million farming households
- Typical rainfall
- 1,600 to over 2,000 mm
- Typical farm size
- 2 to 5 acres
- Typical household income
- about KES 30,000 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 Meru’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 Meru
What crops grow best in Meru County?
Meru ranks 2nd for macadamia and 2nd for sorghum. The biggest crop areas are maize (142,379 ha), dry beans (131,624 ha), pigeon peas (39,702 ha).
Which livestock is common in Meru County?
Meru ranks 6th for dairy goats, 7th for pigs, 9th for wool sheep. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Meru County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Meru above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Meru County in?
The national strategy places Meru in the Central Highlands zone. Our AEZ guide explains how zones, rain and soil shape what you can grow.
How do I work out profit in Meru 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 Meru
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Meru
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 Meru: 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 Meru 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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