What to Farm in Nairobi County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Nairobi ranks 7th for broilers and 10th for layers among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Nairobi Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Dairy cattle
13,390 animals
33rd of 47 counties
0.2% of Kenya
Beef cattle
14,485 animals
43rd of 47 counties
under 0.1% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Nairobi with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Nairobi: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Nairobi.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | Not given | 17 t clean coffee | Not given | 27th of 32 | <0.1% |
| Pigeon peas | 10 | 10 t | 1.0 | 18th of 19 | <0.1% |
| Irish potatoes | 26 | 135 t | 5.2 | 25th of 28 | <0.1% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 4 | 3 t | 0.8 | 33rd of 33 | <0.1% |
| Dry beans | 588 | 227 t | 0.4 | 35th of 39 | <0.1% |
| Cowpeas | 12 | 7 t | 0.6 | 37th of 37 | <0.1% |
| Sorghum | 5 | 4 t | 0.8 | 39th of 41 | <0.1% |
| Sweet potatoes | 30 | 223 t | 7.4 | 40th of 42 | <0.1% |
| Maize | 661 | 246 t | 0.4 | 44th 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 Nairobi
Numbers kept in Nairobi in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wool sheep | 6 | 20th of 20 | <0.1% |
| Dairy goats | 4,412 | 25th of 47 | 0.7% |
| Dairy cattle | 13,390 | 33rd of 47 | 0.2% |
| Beef cattle | 14,485 | 43rd of 47 | <0.1% |
| Hair sheep | 13,334 | 44th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Meat goats | 21,810 | 46th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Pigs | 18,200 | 12th of 43 | 2.2% |
| Rabbits | 24,974 | 12th of 46 | 3.2% |
| Camels | 3 | 26th of 26 | <0.1% |
| Donkeys | 400 | 42nd of 46 | <0.1% |
| Beehives | 847 | 46th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Broilers | 269,974 | 7th of 47 | 4.9% |
| Guinea fowl | 3,070 | 7th of 38 | 3.6% |
| Pigeons | 2,386 | 9th of 28 | 1.1% |
| Quails | 535 | 9th of 19 | 1.7% |
| Layers | 139,005 | 10th of 47 | 2.2% |
| Ducks | 12,927 | 11th of 45 | 2.4% |
| Geese | 5,021 | 13th of 43 | 2.5% |
| Turkeys | 4,792 | 14th of 44 | 2.0% |
| Indigenous chicken | 238,043 | 40th of 47 | 0.4% |
When to Plant in Nairobi
Kenya has long rains from March to May and short rains from late October to December. We have no settled pattern for Nairobi, 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. 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 Nairobi
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Sweet potatoes
Down 16% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Down 19% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Down 66% since 2019
tonnes
Irish potatoes
Down 16% 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 Nairobi
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Broilers
Nairobi recorded about 269,974 broilers in 2023. That ranks 7th of 47 counties and gives 4.9% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Layers
Nairobi recorded about 139,005 layers in 2023. That ranks 10th of 47 counties and gives 2.2% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Pigs
Nairobi recorded about 18,200 pigs in 2023. That ranks 12th of 43 counties and gives 2.2% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Indigenous chicken
Nairobi recorded about 238,043 indigenous chicken in 2023. That ranks 40th of 47 counties and gives 0.4% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Dairy cattle
Nairobi recorded about 13,390 dairy cattle in 2023. That ranks 33rd of 47 counties and gives 0.2% of Kenya's total. Milk outlets include New KCC (Dandora), Bio Foods, Devyani Food Industries. Most accept milk only from registered members or suppliers.
Where to Sell in Nairobi
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 Nairobi
- 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.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Nairobi:
- New KCC (Dandora)
- Bio Foods
- Devyani Food Industries
- Eldoville
- Glacier Products
Access: many outlets take milk only from registered members or suppliers. Ask about membership and price before you deliver.
Fish
Processors listed:
- East African Sea Food Ltd
- CEER Processing Ltd
- East Africa Seaweeds Ltd
Fruit and vegetable exporters
Exporters and packhouses listed:
- Kenya Horticultural Exporters
- Keitt Exporters (avocados and mangoes)
- Kenya Fresh Produce Exporters
- Jade Fresh
- Signum Fresh Fruit Exporters
Access: exporters usually buy under contract. Ask about grade, packaging and payment terms.
Produce markets
| Market | Commonly traded |
|---|---|
| Wakulima (Haile Selassie Avenue) | wholesale vegetables, fruits and potatoes |
| Muthurwa | fresh produce and mixed trade |
| Githurai | tomatoes and other fresh produce |
| New Wakulima (Kangundo Road) | fresh produce and food commodities |
| New Marikiti | wholesale and retail fresh produce |
Know a buyer or a market in Nairobi that should be listed? Tell us on WhatsApp. Please send the business name, product, location and how farmers can sell to it.
Rain and Soil in Nairobi County
Nairobi is not shaded on the national strategy map, so it has no zone profile.
Income, farm size and rainfall are 2019 strategy estimates. Read the AEZ guide to see how zones are set.
Test the Profit of Nairobi’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 Nairobi
What crops grow best in Nairobi County?
Nairobi ranks 7th for broilers and 10th for layers. The biggest crop areas are maize (661 ha), dry beans (588 ha), sweet potatoes (30 ha).
Which livestock is common in Nairobi County?
Nairobi ranks 7th for broilers, 7th for guinea fowl, 9th for quails. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Nairobi County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Nairobi above, then check local buyers and water.
How do I work out profit in Nairobi 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 Nairobi
Tell us what you want to grow or keep. An Agcenture adviser replies on WhatsApp.
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Nairobi
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 Nairobi: 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 Nairobi 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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