What to Farm in Nyandarua County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Nyandarua ranks 2nd for Irish potatoes and 3rd for dairy cattle among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Nyandarua Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Irish potatoes
437,748 tonnes
2nd of 28 counties
43,587 ha · 10.0 t per ha · 19.0% of Kenya
Dairy cattle
385,200 animals
3rd of 47 counties
6.9% of Kenya
Macadamia
867 tonnes of nuts
9th of 12 counties
143 ha · 6.1 t per ha · 2.1% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Nyandarua with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Nyandarua: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Nyandarua.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macadamia | 143 | 867 t nuts | 6.1 | 9th of 12 | 2.1% |
| Irish potatoes | 43,587 | 437,748 t | 10.0 | 2nd of 28 | 19.0% |
| Maize | 20,060 | 26,880 t | 1.3 | 33rd of 47 | 0.7% |
| Dry beans | 5,542 | 3,183 t | 0.6 | 33rd of 39 | 0.4% |
| Sweet potatoes | 6 | 47 t | 7.8 | 42nd 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 Nyandarua
Numbers kept in Nyandarua in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wool sheep | 340,200 | 1st of 20 | 26.8% |
| Dairy cattle | 385,200 | 3rd of 47 | 6.9% |
| Dairy goats | 20,900 | 9th of 47 | 3.5% |
| Hair sheep | 228,300 | 18th of 47 | 1.0% |
| Meat goats | 79,500 | 36th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Beef cattle | 40,300 | 40th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Rabbits | 56,550 | 5th of 46 | 7.2% |
| Beehives | 24,418 | 18th of 47 | 1.5% |
| Pigs | 8,530 | 19th of 43 | 1.0% |
| Donkeys | 8,420 | 21st of 46 | 0.5% |
| Geese | 12,720 | 5th of 43 | 6.4% |
| Turkeys | 9,940 | 7th of 44 | 4.2% |
| Ducks | 12,220 | 12th of 45 | 2.3% |
| Broilers | 44,000 | 20th of 47 | 0.8% |
| Indigenous chicken | 832,800 | 21st of 47 | 1.5% |
| Layers | 35,100 | 33rd of 47 | 0.5% |
| Guinea fowl | 10 | 37th of 38 | <0.1% |
When to Plant in Nyandarua
Kenya has long rains from March to May and short rains from late October to December. We have no settled pattern for Nyandarua, 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 Nyandarua
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Irish potatoes
Up 3% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Up 95% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Down 24% since 2019
tonnes
Sweet potatoes
Up 370% 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 Nyandarua
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Irish potatoes
In 2023 Nyandarua produced 437,748 tonnes of Irish potatoes. That ranks 2nd of 28 counties and gives 19.0% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 43,587 ha, a yield of 10.0 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 9.7. Output rose 3% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to May and late October to December. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Other leading counties: Nakuru, Elgeyo Marakwet, Meru.
Dairy cattle
Nyandarua recorded about 385,200 dairy cattle in 2023. That ranks 3rd of 47 counties and gives 6.9% of Kenya's total. Milk outlets include Kinangop Dairy, Nyala Dairy Cooperative, Ol Kalou Dairies. Most accept milk only from registered members or suppliers.
Other leading counties: Nakuru, Garissa, Uasin Gishu.
Macadamia
In 2023 Nyandarua produced 867 tonnes of macadamia nuts. That ranks 9th of 12 counties and gives 2.1% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 143 ha, a yield of 6.1 t per ha. That is about 19% above the national average of 5.1. Plant seedlings at the start of the rains. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Indigenous chicken
Nyandarua recorded about 832,800 indigenous chicken in 2023. That ranks 21st of 47 counties and gives 1.5% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Beehives
Nyandarua recorded about 24,418 beehives in 2023. That ranks 18th of 47 counties and gives 1.5% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Other leading counties: Kitui, Baringo, Tharaka Nithi.
Where to Sell in Nyandarua
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 Nyandarua
- 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 Nyandarua:
- Kinangop Dairy
- Nyala Dairy Cooperative
- Ol Kalou Dairies
- Brookside (Engineer, Ol Kalou)
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.
Know a buyer or a market in Nyandarua 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 Nyandarua
The national strategy backs these products in Nyandarua. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Nyandarua County
Nyandarua is in the Central Highlands zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm.
- Crops the zone favours
- Coffee, tea, Irish potatoes, French beans, bananas and tomatoes.
- Livestock and fish
- Dairy cattle and poultry.
- Rain and soil
- Two seasons of high rain. Deep, very fertile red soils.
- Farming households
- About 1 million farming households
- Typical rainfall
- 1,600 to over 2,000 mm
- Typical farm size
- 2 to 5 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 Nyandarua’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 Nyandarua
What crops grow best in Nyandarua County?
Nyandarua ranks 2nd for Irish potatoes and 3rd for dairy cattle. The biggest crop areas are Irish potatoes (43,587 ha), maize (20,060 ha), dry beans (5,542 ha).
Which livestock is common in Nyandarua County?
Nyandarua ranks 1st for wool sheep, 3rd for dairy cattle, 5th for rabbits. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Nyandarua County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Nyandarua above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Nyandarua County in?
The national strategy places Nyandarua in the Central Highlands zone. Our AEZ guide explains how zones, rain and soil shape what you can grow.
How do I work out profit in Nyandarua 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 Nyandarua
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Nyandarua
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 Nyandarua: 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 Nyandarua 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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