What to Farm in Narok County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Narok ranks 2nd for hair sheep and 2nd for beef cattle among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Narok Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Beef cattle
1.4 million animals
2nd of 47 counties
8.5% of Kenya
Maize
271,468 tonnes
3rd of 47 counties
127,460 ha · 2.1 t per ha · 7.1% of Kenya
Irish potatoes
140,615 tonnes
5th of 28 counties
14,975 ha · 9.4 t per ha · 6.1% of Kenya
Dry beans
44,773 tonnes
6th of 39 counties
48,245 ha · 0.9 t per ha · 5.5% of Kenya
Sweet potatoes
14,069 tonnes
9th of 42 counties
1,214 ha · 11.6 t per ha · 2.1% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Narok with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Narok: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Narok.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarcane | 17,447 | 31,846 t sugar | Not given | 7th of 13 | 7.1% |
| Tea | 1,322 | 3,748 t made tea | 2.8 | 14th of 15 | 0.7% |
| Coffee | Not given | 80 t clean coffee | Not given | 19th of 32 | 0.2% |
| Maize | 127,460 | 271,468 t | 2.1 | 3rd of 47 | 7.1% |
| Irish potatoes | 14,975 | 140,615 t | 9.4 | 5th of 28 | 6.1% |
| Dry beans | 48,245 | 44,773 t | 0.9 | 6th of 39 | 5.5% |
| Sweet potatoes | 1,214 | 14,069 t | 11.6 | 9th of 42 | 2.1% |
| Finger millet | 1,014 | 1,135 t | 1.1 | 11th of 27 | 2.9% |
| Sorghum | 1,486 | 2,391 t | 1.6 | 13th of 41 | 1.2% |
| Cowpeas | 24 | 17 t | 0.7 | 35th of 37 | <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 Narok
Numbers kept in Narok in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef cattle | 1.4 million | 2nd of 47 | 8.5% |
| Hair sheep | 2.6 million | 2nd of 47 | 12.1% |
| Wool sheep | 73,196 | 6th of 20 | 5.8% |
| Meat goats | 956,090 | 11th of 47 | 2.8% |
| Dairy cattle | 101,940 | 20th of 47 | 1.8% |
| Dairy goats | 4,927 | 24th of 47 | 0.8% |
| Donkeys | 87,810 | 5th of 46 | 5.1% |
| Beehives | 49,628 | 9th of 47 | 3.0% |
| Pigs | 2,530 | 29th of 43 | 0.3% |
| Rabbits | 3,994 | 35th of 46 | 0.5% |
| Layers | 58,987 | 24th of 47 | 0.9% |
| Indigenous chicken | 768,238 | 25th of 47 | 1.4% |
| Pigeons | 52 | 27th of 28 | <0.1% |
| Guinea fowl | 150 | 35th of 38 | 0.2% |
| Broilers | 5,001 | 38th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Turkeys | 309 | 38th of 44 | 0.1% |
| Ducks | 878 | 39th of 45 | 0.2% |
| Geese | 394 | 39th of 43 | 0.2% |
When to Plant in Narok
Narok is in a relay-planting area. Two seasons with relay planting. Plant January to February and harvest July to August. Some farmers replant April to May, and some plant again September to October.
Darker blocks are the main planting months. Lighter blocks are months some farmers also plant.
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 Narok
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Maize
Up 143% since 2019
tonnes
Sugarcane
Down 8% since 2019
tonnes of sugar
Irish potatoes
Up 2% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Up 29% 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 Narok
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Hair sheep
Narok recorded about 2.6 million hair sheep in 2023. That ranks 2nd of 47 counties and gives 12.1% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Beef cattle
Narok recorded about 1.4 million beef cattle in 2023. That ranks 2nd of 47 counties and gives 8.5% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Maize
In 2023 Narok produced 271,468 tonnes of maize. That ranks 3rd of 47 counties and gives 7.1% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 127,460 ha, a yield of 2.1 t per ha. That is about 31% above the national average of 1.6. Output rose 143% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in January to February. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Other leading counties: Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma.
Irish potatoes
In 2023 Narok produced 140,615 tonnes of Irish potatoes. That ranks 5th of 28 counties and gives 6.1% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 14,975 ha, a yield of 9.4 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 9.7. Output rose 2% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in January to February. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Other leading counties: Nakuru, Nyandarua, Elgeyo Marakwet.
Donkeys
Narok recorded about 87,810 donkeys in 2023. That ranks 5th of 46 counties and gives 5.1% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Tea
In 2023 Narok produced 3,748 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 14th of 15 counties and gives 0.7% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 1,322 ha, a yield of 2.8 t per ha. That is about 13% above the national average of 2.5. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Sugarcane
In 2023 Narok produced 31,846 tonnes of sugar. That ranks 7th of 13 counties and gives 7.1% of Kenya's output. Output fell 8% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Cane goes to mills such as Transmara Sugar. Each mill has a catchment, so register as a grower first.
Where to Sell in Narok
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 Narok
- 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 2 cooperative societies running 2 factories in Narok.
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Sugarcane
Mills listed for Narok:
- Transmara Sugar
Access: a mill buys cane from its own catchment. Ask about grower registration, harvest dates and transport before you plant.
Dairy
Dairy outlets listed for Narok:
- New KCC (Kilgoris)
- Brookside (Olenguruone)
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 Narok yet.
Ask the county livestock or veterinary office for market names and days. Never move animals without the right permits.
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 Narok 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 Narok
The national strategy backs these products in Narok. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Narok County
Narok is in the Rift Valley zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm.
- 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 Narok’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 Narok
What crops grow best in Narok County?
Narok ranks 2nd for hair sheep and 2nd for beef cattle. The biggest crop areas are maize (127,460 ha), dry beans (48,245 ha), sugarcane (17,447 ha).
Which livestock is common in Narok County?
Narok ranks 2nd for hair sheep, 2nd for beef cattle, 5th for donkeys. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Narok County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Narok above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Narok County in?
The national strategy places Narok 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 Narok 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 Narok
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Narok
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 Narok: 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 Narok 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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