What to Farm in Nandi County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Nandi ranks 3rd for tea and 4th for sugarcane among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Nandi Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Tea
97,681 tonnes of made tea
3rd of 15 counties
37,595 ha · 2.6 t per ha · 17.3% of Kenya
Dairy cattle
182,667 animals
14th of 47 counties
3.3% of Kenya
Dry beans
21,830 tonnes
17th of 39 counties
30,277 ha · 0.7 t per ha · 2.7% of Kenya
Maize
89,592 tonnes
16th of 47 counties
45,674 ha · 2.0 t per ha · 2.4% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Nandi with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Nandi: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Nandi.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tea | 37,595 | 97,681 t made tea | 2.6 | 3rd of 15 | 17.3% |
| Sugarcane | 23,801 | 43,443 t sugar | Not given | 4th of 13 | 9.7% |
| Coffee | Not given | 1,552 t clean coffee | Not given | 9th of 32 | 3.2% |
| Maize | 45,674 | 89,592 t | 2.0 | 16th of 47 | 2.4% |
| Finger millet | 157 | 251 t | 1.6 | 17th of 27 | 0.6% |
| Dry beans | 30,277 | 21,830 t | 0.7 | 17th of 39 | 2.7% |
| Irish potatoes | 644 | 6,611 t | 10.3 | 18th of 28 | 0.3% |
| Sorghum | 463 | 760 t | 1.6 | 23rd of 41 | 0.4% |
| Sweet potatoes | 166 | 2,389 t | 14.4 | 28th of 42 | 0.4% |
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 Nandi
Numbers kept in Nandi in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wool sheep | 10,413 | 13th of 20 | 0.8% |
| Dairy cattle | 182,667 | 14th of 47 | 3.3% |
| Dairy goats | 3,606 | 28th of 47 | 0.6% |
| Hair sheep | 102,002 | 29th of 47 | 0.5% |
| Beef cattle | 72,882 | 37th of 47 | 0.4% |
| Meat goats | 31,339 | 44th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Beehives | 19,312 | 26th of 47 | 1.2% |
| Donkeys | 4,588 | 28th of 46 | 0.3% |
| Pigs | 1,105 | 34th of 43 | 0.1% |
| Rabbits | 4,197 | 34th of 46 | 0.5% |
| Guinea fowl | 2,451 | 10th of 38 | 2.9% |
| Layers | 62,523 | 21st of 47 | 1.0% |
| Broilers | 23,542 | 25th of 47 | 0.4% |
| Indigenous chicken | 547,042 | 32nd of 47 | 1.0% |
| Turkeys | 397 | 37th of 44 | 0.2% |
| Geese | 399 | 38th of 43 | 0.2% |
| Ducks | 549 | 41st of 45 | 0.1% |
When to Plant in Nandi
Nandi 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 Nandi
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Tea
Up 46% since 2019
tonnes of made tea
Sugarcane
Up 31% since 2019
tonnes of sugar
Coffee
Up 83% since 18/19
tonnes of clean coffee
Dry beans
Down 6% 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 Nandi
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Tea
In 2023 Nandi produced 97,681 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 3rd of 15 counties and gives 17.3% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 37,595 ha, a yield of 2.6 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 2.5. Output rose 46% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Green leaf goes to KTDA factories such as Chubut, Kaptumo. Join through your factory company.
Sugarcane
In 2023 Nandi produced 43,443 tonnes of sugar. That ranks 4th of 13 counties and gives 9.7% of Kenya's output. Output rose 31% 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 Nandi produced 1,552 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 9th of 32 counties and gives 3.2% of Kenya's output. Output rose 83% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 44 cooperative societies and 44 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Dairy cattle
Nandi recorded about 182,667 dairy cattle in 2023. That ranks 14th of 47 counties and gives 3.3% of Kenya's total. Milk outlets include New KCC (Kapsabet, Ainabkoi, Lessos), Brookside (Kaptumo). Most accept milk only from registered members or suppliers.
Dry beans
In 2023 Nandi produced 21,830 tonnes of dry beans. That ranks 17th of 39 counties and gives 2.7% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 30,277 ha, a yield of 0.7 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 0.7. Output fell 6% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Where to Sell in Nandi
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 Nandi
- 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 Nandi:
- Chubut
- Kaptumo
Kipchabo Tea Factory (Nyayo Tea Zones) takes leaf from forest buffer communities in Nandi and parts of Kakamega.
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 44 cooperative societies running 44 factories in Nandi.
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Nandi:
- New KCC (Kapsabet, Ainabkoi, Lessos)
- Brookside (Kaptumo)
Access: many outlets take milk only from registered members or suppliers. Ask about membership and price before you deliver.
Know a buyer or a market in Nandi 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 Nandi
The national strategy backs these products in Nandi. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Nandi County
Nandi is in the Western zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm. Parts of Nandi are in AEZ Zone III: medium potential land with 950 to 1,500 mm of rain.
- Crops the zone favours
- Maize, French beans, sugar, groundnuts, sweet potato and Irish potatoes.
- Livestock and fish
- Dairy, poultry and fish.
- Rain and soil
- Two medium rainy seasons. Red soils of medium to high fertility.
- Farming households
- About 1.6 million farming households
- Typical rainfall
- 1,200 to 1,800 mm
- Typical farm size
- 0.5 to 5 acres
- Typical household income
- about KES 15,000 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 Nandi’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 Nandi
What crops grow best in Nandi County?
Nandi ranks 3rd for tea and 4th for sugarcane. The biggest crop areas are maize (45,674 ha), tea (37,595 ha), dry beans (30,277 ha).
Which livestock is common in Nandi County?
Nandi ranks 10th for guinea fowl, 13th for wool sheep, 14th for dairy cattle. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Nandi County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Nandi above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Nandi County in?
The national strategy places Nandi in the Western zone. Our AEZ guide explains how zones, rain and soil shape what you can grow.
How do I work out profit in Nandi 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 Nandi
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 Nandi
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 Nandi: 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 Nandi 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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