What to Farm in Nakuru County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Nakuru ranks 1st for Irish potatoes and 1st for dry beans among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Nakuru Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Irish potatoes
657,091 tonnes
1st of 28 counties
49,981 ha · 13.1 t per ha · 28.5% of Kenya
Dry beans
99,926 tonnes
1st of 39 counties
50,835 ha · 2.0 t per ha · 12.2% of Kenya
Dairy cattle
466,779 animals
1st of 47 counties
8.4% of Kenya
Maize
214,133 tonnes
5th of 47 counties
66,315 ha · 3.2 t per ha · 5.6% of Kenya
Indigenous chicken
1.6 million birds
9th of 47 counties
2.9% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Nakuru with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Nakuru: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Nakuru.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tea | 3,375 | 8,499 t made tea | 2.5 | 12th of 15 | 1.5% |
| Coffee | Not given | 619 t clean coffee | Not given | 15th of 32 | 1.3% |
| Dry beans | 50,835 | 99,926 t | 2.0 | 1st of 39 | 12.2% |
| Irish potatoes | 49,981 | 657,091 t | 13.1 | 1st of 28 | 28.5% |
| Maize | 66,315 | 214,133 t | 3.2 | 5th of 47 | 5.6% |
| Finger millet | 590 | 809 t | 1.4 | 12th of 27 | 2.1% |
| Pigeon peas | 68 | 63 t | 0.9 | 13th of 19 | <0.1% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 100 | 104 t | 1.0 | 20th of 33 | <0.1% |
| Sorghum | 559 | 856 t | 1.5 | 21st of 41 | 0.4% |
| Cowpeas | 28 | 25 t | 0.9 | 32nd of 37 | <0.1% |
| Sweet potatoes | 97 | 529 t | 5.5 | 35th of 42 | <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 Nakuru
Numbers kept in Nakuru in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy cattle | 466,779 | 1st of 47 | 8.4% |
| Wool sheep | 259,503 | 2nd of 20 | 20.4% |
| Dairy goats | 47,593 | 5th of 47 | 7.9% |
| Hair sheep | 537,937 | 9th of 47 | 2.5% |
| Beef cattle | 251,150 | 21st of 47 | 1.5% |
| Meat goats | 298,170 | 27th of 47 | 0.9% |
| Rabbits | 66,376 | 2nd of 46 | 8.5% |
| Beehives | 52,634 | 8th of 47 | 3.1% |
| Pigs | 27,517 | 9th of 43 | 3.3% |
| Donkeys | 21,490 | 13th of 46 | 1.2% |
| Geese | 15,286 | 3rd of 43 | 7.7% |
| Layers | 301,737 | 6th of 47 | 4.7% |
| Turkeys | 15,803 | 6th of 44 | 6.7% |
| Ducks | 17,755 | 7th of 45 | 3.4% |
| Indigenous chicken | 1.6 million | 9th of 47 | 2.9% |
| Broilers | 164,613 | 11th of 47 | 3.0% |
When to Plant in Nakuru
Kenya has long rains from March to May and short rains from late October to December. We have no settled pattern for Nakuru, 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 Nakuru
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Irish potatoes
Up 52% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Up 173% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Up 179% since 2019
tonnes
Finger millet
Down 23% 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 Nakuru
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Irish potatoes
In 2023 Nakuru produced 657,091 tonnes of Irish potatoes. That ranks 1st of 28 counties and gives 28.5% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 49,981 ha, a yield of 13.1 t per ha. That is about 36% above the national average of 9.7. Output rose 52% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to May and late October to December. Markets to check include Nakuru Wakulima. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Other leading counties: Nyandarua, Elgeyo Marakwet, Meru.
Dry beans
In 2023 Nakuru produced 99,926 tonnes of dry beans. That ranks 1st of 39 counties and gives 12.2% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 50,835 ha, a reported yield of 2.0 t per ha. The national average is 0.7, so treat the gap with care. Output rose 173% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to May and late October to December. Markets to check include Nakuru Wakulima. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Other leading counties: Meru, Machakos, Trans Nzoia.
Dairy cattle
Nakuru recorded about 466,779 dairy cattle in 2023. That ranks 1st of 47 counties and gives 8.4% of Kenya's total. Milk outlets include New KCC (Nakuru, Molo, Eldama Ravine, Naivasha), Brookside (Nakuru, Njoro), Buzeki Molo. Most accept milk only from registered members or suppliers.
Other leading counties: Garissa, Nyandarua, Uasin Gishu.
Maize
In 2023 Nakuru produced 214,133 tonnes of maize. That ranks 5th of 47 counties and gives 5.6% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 66,315 ha, a yield of 3.2 t per ha. That is about 98% above the national average of 1.6. Output rose 179% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to May and late October to December. Markets to check include Nakuru Wakulima. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Other leading counties: Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Narok.
Layers
Nakuru recorded about 301,737 layers in 2023. That ranks 6th of 47 counties and gives 4.7% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Tea
In 2023 Nakuru produced 8,499 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 12th of 15 counties and gives 1.5% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 3,375 ha, a yield of 2.5 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 2.5. Output rose 112% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Coffee
In 2023 Nakuru produced 619 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 15th of 32 counties and gives 1.3% of Kenya's output. Output fell 34% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 6 cooperative societies and 7 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Where to Sell in Nakuru
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 Nakuru
- 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 6 cooperative societies running 7 factories in Nakuru.
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Nakuru:
- New KCC (Nakuru, Molo, Eldama Ravine, Naivasha)
- Brookside (Nakuru, Njoro)
- Buzeki Molo
- Bahati Agro Processors
- Happy Cow
- Suka Dairy Farmers
- Biashara Wakulima Dairy Cooperative
Brookside publishes these supplier rules:
- Fresh cow milk.
- Butterfat of at least 3.7%.
- No antibiotics or preservatives.
- Milk chilled to 3 to 6 degrees Celsius.
Its supplier registration line is 0702 967 911 (SMS 22323).
Access: many outlets take milk only from registered members or suppliers. Ask about membership and price before you deliver.
Livestock
No named livestock market is in our directory for Nakuru yet.
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:
- Kenya Horticultural Exporters (Naivasha packhouse)
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.
Produce markets
| Market | Commonly traded |
|---|---|
| Nakuru Wakulima | cereals, vegetables, fruits and other produce |
Know a buyer or a market in Nakuru 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 Nakuru
The national strategy backs these products in Nakuru. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Nakuru County
Nakuru is in the Rift Valley zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm. Parts of Nakuru are in AEZ Zone III: medium potential land with 950 to 1,500 mm of rain. Other parts are in Zone IV: semi-arid land with 500 to 1,000 mm of rain.
- Crops the zone favours
- Maize, wheat, sorghum, Irish potatoes and honey.
- Livestock and fish
- Goats, sheep, chicken and dairy cattle.
- Rain and soil
- One season of moderate rain. Mixed shallow and deep soils.
- Farming households
- About 0.4 million farming households
- Typical rainfall
- 600 to 1,200 mm
- Typical farm size
- 2 to 60 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 Nakuru’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 Nakuru
What crops grow best in Nakuru County?
Nakuru ranks 1st for Irish potatoes and 1st for dry beans. The biggest crop areas are maize (66,315 ha), dry beans (50,835 ha), Irish potatoes (49,981 ha).
Which livestock is common in Nakuru County?
Nakuru ranks 1st for dairy cattle, 2nd for wool sheep, 2nd for rabbits. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Nakuru County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Nakuru above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Nakuru County in?
The national strategy places Nakuru in the Rift Valley zone. Our AEZ guide explains how zones, rain and soil shape what you can grow.
How do I work out profit in Nakuru 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 Nakuru
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Nakuru
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 Nakuru: 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 Nakuru 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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