What to Farm in Nyamira County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Nyamira ranks 1st for finger millet and 5th for tea among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Nyamira Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Finger millet
6,613 tonnes
1st of 27 counties
9,534 ha · 0.7 t per ha · 16.8% of Kenya
Tea
39,303 tonnes of made tea
5th of 15 counties
16,083 ha · 2.4 t per ha · 7.0% of Kenya
Maize
77,009 tonnes
19th of 47 counties
48,280 ha · 1.6 t per ha · 2.0% of Kenya
Dry beans
10,684 tonnes
25th of 39 counties
30,021 ha · 0.4 t per ha · 1.3% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Nyamira with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Nyamira: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Nyamira.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tea | 16,083 | 39,303 t made tea | 2.4 | 5th of 15 | 7.0% |
| Coffee | Not given | 734 t clean coffee | Not given | 14th of 32 | 1.5% |
| Finger millet | 9,534 | 6,613 t | 0.7 | 1st of 27 | 16.8% |
| Maize | 48,280 | 77,009 t | 1.6 | 19th of 47 | 2.0% |
| Dry beans | 30,021 | 10,684 t | 0.4 | 25th of 39 | 1.3% |
| Irish potatoes | 20 | 122 t | 6.1 | 26th of 28 | <0.1% |
| Sweet potatoes | 298 | 3,410 t | 11.4 | 26th of 42 | 0.5% |
| Cowpeas | 70 | 46 t | 0.7 | 29th of 37 | <0.1% |
| Sorghum | 65 | 45 t | 0.7 | 37th 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 Nyamira
Numbers kept in Nyamira in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wool sheep | 320 | 19th of 20 | <0.1% |
| Dairy cattle | 36,380 | 27th of 47 | 0.7% |
| Beef cattle | 88,814 | 36th of 47 | 0.5% |
| Dairy goats | 1,361 | 38th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Meat goats | 42,767 | 42nd of 47 | 0.1% |
| Hair sheep | 13,137 | 45th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Pigs | 1,510 | 32nd of 43 | 0.2% |
| Rabbits | 3,116 | 36th of 46 | 0.4% |
| Beehives | 5,502 | 39th of 47 | 0.3% |
| Donkeys | 758 | 40th of 46 | <0.1% |
| Quails | 368 | 10th of 19 | 1.2% |
| Layers | 67,709 | 20th of 47 | 1.1% |
| Guinea fowl | 639 | 25th of 38 | 0.7% |
| Pigeons | 54 | 26th of 28 | <0.1% |
| Broilers | 10,787 | 34th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Indigenous chicken | 499,680 | 35th of 47 | 0.9% |
| Turkeys | 598 | 35th of 44 | 0.3% |
| Ducks | 622 | 40th of 45 | 0.1% |
| Geese | 389 | 40th of 43 | 0.2% |
When to Plant in Nyamira
Nyamira 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 Nyamira
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Finger millet
Down 5% since 2019
tonnes
Tea
Up 17% since 2019
tonnes of made tea
Maize
Up 64% since 2019
tonnes
Coffee
Down 5% since 18/19
tonnes of clean coffee
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 Nyamira
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Finger millet
In 2023 Nyamira produced 6,613 tonnes of finger millet. That ranks 1st of 27 counties and gives 16.8% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 9,534 ha, a yield of 0.7 t per ha. That is about 15% below the national average of 0.8. Output fell 5% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in January to February. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Tea
In 2023 Nyamira produced 39,303 tonnes of made tea. That ranks 5th of 15 counties and gives 7.0% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 16,083 ha, a yield of 2.4 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 2.5. Output rose 17% between 2019 and 2023. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Green leaf goes to KTDA factories such as Sanganyi, Tombe, Sombogo. Join through your factory company.
Maize
In 2023 Nyamira produced 77,009 tonnes of maize. That ranks 19th of 47 counties and gives 2.0% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 48,280 ha, a yield of 1.6 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 1.6. Output rose 64% 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, Narok.
Coffee
In 2023 Nyamira produced 734 tonnes of clean coffee. That ranks 14th of 32 counties and gives 1.5% of Kenya's output. Output fell 5% between 2018/19 and 2022/23. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. The Coffee Directorate lists 10 cooperative societies and 21 factories here. Deliver cherry through your society.
Dry beans
In 2023 Nyamira produced 10,684 tonnes of dry beans. That ranks 25th of 39 counties and gives 1.3% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 30,021 ha, a yield of 0.4 t per ha. That is about 49% below the national average of 0.7. Output fell 54% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in January to February. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Where to Sell in Nyamira
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 Nyamira
- 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 Nyamira:
- Sanganyi
- Tombe
- Sombogo
- Gianchore
- Nyansiongo
- Matunwa
- Kebirigo
- Nyankoba
- Itumbe
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 10 cooperative societies running 21 factories in Nyamira.
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
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 Nyamira 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 Nyamira
The national strategy backs these products in Nyamira. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Nyamira County
Nyamira is in the Western zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm.
- 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 Nyamira’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 Nyamira
What crops grow best in Nyamira County?
Nyamira ranks 1st for finger millet and 5th for tea. The biggest crop areas are maize (48,280 ha), dry beans (30,021 ha), tea (16,083 ha).
Which livestock is common in Nyamira County?
Nyamira ranks 10th for quails, 19th for wool sheep, 20th for layers. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Nyamira County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Nyamira above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Nyamira County in?
The national strategy places Nyamira 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 Nyamira 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 Nyamira
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 Nyamira
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 Nyamira: 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 Nyamira 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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