What to Farm in Samburu County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Samburu ranks 9th for camels and 11th for hair sheep among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Samburu Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Camels
60,018 animals
9th of 26 counties
1.4% of Kenya
Meat goats
606,766 animals
17th of 47 counties
1.8% of Kenya
Beef cattle
274,606 animals
18th of 47 counties
1.7% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Samburu with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Samburu: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Samburu.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irish potatoes | 322 | 2,355 t | 7.3 | 21st of 28 | 0.1% |
| Cowpeas | 98 | 97 t | 1.0 | 25th of 37 | <0.1% |
| Dry beans | 4,897 | 4,615 t | 0.9 | 31st of 39 | 0.6% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 10 | 4 t | 0.4 | 32nd of 33 | <0.1% |
| Sweet potatoes | 58 | 693 t | 11.9 | 33rd of 42 | 0.1% |
| Maize | 15,870 | 11,196 t | 0.7 | 37th of 47 | 0.3% |
| Sorghum | 5 | 2 t | 0.4 | 41st 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 Samburu
Numbers kept in Samburu in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair sheep | 526,317 | 11th of 47 | 2.4% |
| Meat goats | 606,766 | 17th of 47 | 1.8% |
| Beef cattle | 274,606 | 18th of 47 | 1.7% |
| Dairy goats | 3,732 | 27th of 47 | 0.6% |
| Dairy cattle | 6,001 | 41st of 47 | 0.1% |
| Camels | 60,018 | 9th of 26 | 1.4% |
| Donkeys | 20,761 | 14th of 46 | 1.2% |
| Beehives | 20,209 | 24th of 47 | 1.2% |
| Pigs | 744 | 37th of 43 | <0.1% |
| Rabbits | 343 | 42nd of 46 | <0.1% |
| Pigeons | 168 | 22nd of 28 | <0.1% |
| Guinea fowl | 42 | 36th of 38 | <0.1% |
| Indigenous chicken | 171,592 | 42nd of 47 | 0.3% |
| Turkeys | 71 | 42nd of 44 | <0.1% |
| Ducks | 105 | 43rd of 45 | <0.1% |
| Geese | 58 | 43rd of 43 | <0.1% |
| Broilers | 1,538 | 44th of 47 | <0.1% |
| Layers | 3,497 | 45th of 47 | <0.1% |
When to Plant in Samburu
Kenya has long rains from March to May and short rains from late October to December. We have no settled pattern for Samburu, 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. Altitude changes the pattern inside a county, so ask your sub-county agricultural officer.
Five-Year Trends in Samburu
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Dry beans
Up 537% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Up 30% since 2019
tonnes
Irish potatoes
Up 391% since 2019
tonnes
Cowpeas
Up 116% 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 Samburu
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Camels
Samburu recorded about 60,018 camels in 2023. That ranks 9th of 26 counties and gives 1.4% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Hair sheep
Samburu recorded about 526,317 hair sheep in 2023. That ranks 11th of 47 counties and gives 2.4% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Meat goats
Samburu recorded about 606,766 meat goats in 2023. That ranks 17th of 47 counties and gives 1.8% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Beef cattle
Samburu recorded about 274,606 beef cattle in 2023. That ranks 18th of 47 counties and gives 1.7% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Beehives
Samburu recorded about 20,209 beehives in 2023. That ranks 24th of 47 counties and gives 1.2% 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 Samburu
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 Samburu
- 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.
No named buyers yet
Our directory has no verified outlet for Samburu. That does not mean there are none. Use the steps below to find them.
Livestock
Samburu has one of the densest livestock market networks in Kenya, per a SPARC national mapping.
Ask the county livestock or veterinary office for market names and days. Never move animals without the right permits.
Know a buyer or a market in Samburu that should be listed? Tell us on WhatsApp. Please send the business name, product, location and how farmers can sell to it.
Rain and Soil in Samburu County
Samburu is in the Central ASALs zone of the national strategy. These notes describe the whole zone, not one farm.
- Crops the zone favours
- Mostly pastoralism, with some maize on raised plateaus.
- Livestock and fish
- Beef cattle, goats and sheep.
- Rain and soil
- One season of rain at best. Salty, low-fertility soils.
- Farming households
- About 0.3 million farming households
- Typical rainfall
- 400 to 800 mm
- Typical farm size
- Group ranches
- Typical household income
- under KES 10,000 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 Samburu’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 Samburu
What crops grow best in Samburu County?
Samburu ranks 9th for camels and 11th for hair sheep. The biggest crop areas are maize (15,870 ha), dry beans (4,897 ha), Irish potatoes (322 ha).
Which livestock is common in Samburu County?
Samburu ranks 9th for camels, 11th for hair sheep, 14th for donkeys. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Samburu County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Samburu above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Samburu County in?
The national strategy places Samburu in the Central ASALs zone. Our AEZ guide explains how zones, rain and soil shape what you can grow.
How do I work out profit in Samburu 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 Samburu
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 Samburu
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 Samburu: 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 Samburu 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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