What to Farm in Murang'a County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Murang'a ranks 1st for macadamia and 2nd for layers among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Murang'a Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Macadamia
11,108 tonnes of nuts
1st of 12 counties
2,355 ha · 4.7 t per ha · 27.4% of Kenya
Tea
47,260 tonnes of made tea
4th of 15 counties
17,338 ha · 2.7 t per ha · 8.4% of Kenya
Dairy cattle
322,118 animals
6th of 47 counties
5.8% of Kenya
Pigeon peas
227 tonnes
9th of 19 counties
379 ha · 0.6 t per ha · 0.1% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Murang'a with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Murang'a: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Murang'a.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macadamia | 2,355 | 11,108 t nuts | 4.7 | 1st of 12 | 27.4% |
| Tea | 17,338 | 47,260 t made tea | 2.7 | 4th of 15 | 8.4% |
| Coffee | Not given | 5,130 t clean coffee | Not given | 4th of 32 | 10.5% |
| Pigeon peas | 379 | 227 t | 0.6 | 9th of 19 | 0.1% |
| Sweet potatoes | 557 | 6,063 t | 10.9 | 13th of 42 | 0.9% |
| Irish potatoes | 7,470 | 26,037 t | 3.5 | 14th of 28 | 1.1% |
| Cowpeas | 663 | 280 t | 0.4 | 17th of 37 | 0.2% |
| Dry beans | 46,051 | 18,186 t | 0.4 | 20th of 39 | 2.2% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 175 | 97 t | 0.6 | 21st of 33 | <0.1% |
| Maize | 67,530 | 47,511 t | 0.7 | 27th of 47 | 1.2% |
| Sorghum | 203 | 143 t | 0.7 | 32nd of 41 | <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 Murang'a
Numbers kept in Murang'a in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy goats | 79,663 | 2nd of 47 | 13.2% |
| Dairy cattle | 322,118 | 6th of 47 | 5.8% |
| Wool sheep | 18,459 | 10th of 20 | 1.5% |
| Meat goats | 107,095 | 32nd of 47 | 0.3% |
| Beef cattle | 36,536 | 41st of 47 | 0.2% |
| Hair sheep | 41,841 | 41st of 47 | 0.2% |
| Rabbits | 64,284 | 3rd of 46 | 8.2% |
| Pigs | 48,373 | 6th of 43 | 5.8% |
| Beehives | 29,288 | 14th of 47 | 1.7% |
| Donkeys | 1,012 | 38th of 46 | <0.1% |
| Layers | 558,391 | 2nd of 47 | 8.7% |
| Pigeons | 1,027 | 13th of 28 | 0.5% |
| Broilers | 95,759 | 14th of 47 | 1.7% |
| Quails | 150 | 14th of 19 | 0.5% |
| Guinea fowl | 1,828 | 15th of 38 | 2.1% |
| Geese | 3,643 | 16th of 43 | 1.8% |
| Turkeys | 4,135 | 17th of 44 | 1.7% |
| Indigenous chicken | 983,105 | 18th of 47 | 1.8% |
| Ducks | 4,245 | 27th of 45 | 0.8% |
When to Plant in Murang'a
Murang'a is in a two-season area. Two seasons. Long rains: plant March to April, harvest July to August. Short rains: plant September to October, harvest December to January.
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 Murang'a
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Coffee
Up 27% since 18/19
tonnes of clean coffee
Tea
Up 12% since 2019
tonnes of made tea
Dry beans
Up 10% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Down 30% 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 Murang'a
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Macadamia
In 2023 Murang'a produced 11,108 tonnes of macadamia nuts. That ranks 1st of 12 counties and gives 27.4% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 2,355 ha, a yield of 4.7 t per ha. That is about 7% below 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.
Layers
Murang'a recorded about 558,391 layers in 2023. That ranks 2nd of 47 counties and gives 8.7% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Coffee
In 2023 Murang'a produced 5,130 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 4th of 32 counties and gives 10.5% of Kenya's output. Output rose 27% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 57 cooperative societies and 151 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Tea
In 2023 Murang'a produced 47,260 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 4th of 15 counties and gives 8.4% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 17,338 ha, a yield of 2.7 t per ha. That is about 9% above the national average of 2.5. Output rose 12% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Green leaf goes to KTDA factories such as Makomboki, Githambo, Kanyenyaini. Join through your factory company.
Dairy cattle
Murang'a recorded about 322,118 dairy cattle in 2023. That ranks 6th of 47 counties and gives 5.8% of Kenya's total. Milk outlets include Murang'a County Creameries, Aspendos Dairy, Miharati DFC. Most accept milk only from registered members or suppliers.
Where to Sell in Murang'a
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 Murang'a
- 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 Murang'a:
- Makomboki
- Githambo
- Kanyenyaini
- Kiru
- Gatunguru
- Iriaini
- Gitugi
- Gathuthi
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 57 cooperative societies running 151 factories in Murang'a.
Millers named for the area:
- Murang'a Cooperative Union Coffee Mill
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Murang'a:
- Murang'a County Creameries
- Aspendos Dairy
- Miharati DFC
- Kirere Dairy
- Engineer Dairies
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 Murang'a 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 Murang'a
The national strategy backs these products in Murang'a. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Murang'a County
Murang'a is in the Central Highlands zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm.
- 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 Murang'a’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 Murang'a
What crops grow best in Murang'a County?
Murang'a ranks 1st for macadamia and 2nd for layers. The biggest crop areas are maize (67,530 ha), dry beans (46,051 ha), tea (17,338 ha).
Which livestock is common in Murang'a County?
Murang'a ranks 2nd for dairy goats, 2nd for layers, 3rd for rabbits. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Murang'a County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Murang'a above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Murang'a County in?
The national strategy places Murang'a 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 Murang'a 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 Murang'a
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Murang'a
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 Murang'a: 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 Murang'a 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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