What to Farm in Siaya County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
Siaya ranks 3rd for sweet potatoes and 5th for sorghum among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where Siaya Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Sweet potatoes
82,794 tonnes
3rd of 42 counties
6,918 ha · 12.0 t per ha · 12.4% of Kenya
Sorghum
14,876 tonnes
5th of 41 counties
15,046 ha · 1.0 t per ha · 7.6% of Kenya
Beef cattle
504,124 animals
9th of 47 counties
3.1% of Kenya
Indigenous chicken
1.3 million birds
13th of 47 counties
2.4% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare Siaya with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in Siaya: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in Siaya.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Not given | 345 bales of lint | Not given | 4th of 21 | 4.9% |
| Sugarcane | 1,485 | 2,710 t sugar | Not given | 13th of 13 | 0.6% |
| Coffee | Not given | 1 t clean coffee | Not given | 32nd of 32 | <0.1% |
| Sweet potatoes | 6,918 | 82,794 t | 12.0 | 3rd of 42 | 12.4% |
| Sorghum | 15,046 | 14,876 t | 1.0 | 5th of 41 | 7.6% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 695 | 334 t | 0.5 | 14th of 33 | 0.2% |
| Cowpeas | 164 | 231 t | 1.4 | 18th of 37 | 0.1% |
| Maize | 73,521 | 76,704 t | 1.0 | 20th of 47 | 2.0% |
| Finger millet | 98 | 74 t | 0.8 | 22nd of 27 | 0.2% |
| Dry beans | 36,840 | 14,100 t | 0.4 | 22nd of 39 | 1.7% |
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 Siaya
Numbers kept in Siaya in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef cattle | 504,124 | 9th of 47 | 3.1% |
| Dairy goats | 9,769 | 14th of 47 | 1.6% |
| Hair sheep | 227,135 | 19th of 47 | 1.0% |
| Meat goats | 402,068 | 23rd of 47 | 1.2% |
| Dairy cattle | 12,568 | 35th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Pigs | 20,260 | 10th of 43 | 2.4% |
| Rabbits | 18,522 | 15th of 46 | 2.4% |
| Donkeys | 11,020 | 18th of 46 | 0.6% |
| Camels | 9 | 24th of 26 | <0.1% |
| Beehives | 20,171 | 25th of 47 | 1.2% |
| Quails | 4,584 | 2nd of 19 | 15.0% |
| Guinea fowl | 2,330 | 11th of 38 | 2.7% |
| Broilers | 144,020 | 12th of 47 | 2.6% |
| Indigenous chicken | 1.3 million | 13th of 47 | 2.4% |
| Layers | 120,798 | 13th of 47 | 1.9% |
| Turkeys | 4,870 | 13th of 44 | 2.1% |
| Ducks | 9,331 | 15th of 45 | 1.8% |
| Geese | 2,312 | 22nd of 43 | 1.2% |
When to Plant in Siaya
Siaya is in a two-season area. Two seasons. Long rains: plant March to April, harvest July to August. Short rains: plant September to October, harvest December to January.
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 Siaya
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Sweet potatoes
Up 31% since 2019
tonnes
Sorghum
Down 9% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Up 19% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Down 18% 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 Siaya
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Sweet potatoes
In 2023 Siaya produced 82,794 tonnes of sweet potatoes. That ranks 3rd of 42 counties and gives 12.4% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 6,918 ha, a yield of 12.0 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 12.3. Output rose 31% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and September to October. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Sorghum
In 2023 Siaya produced 14,876 tonnes of sorghum. That ranks 5th of 41 counties and gives 7.6% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 15,046 ha, a yield of 1.0 t per ha. That is close to the national average of 1.0. Output fell 9% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April and September to October. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Beef cattle
Siaya recorded about 504,124 beef cattle in 2023. That ranks 9th of 47 counties and gives 3.1% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Pigs
Siaya recorded about 20,260 pigs in 2023. That ranks 10th of 43 counties and gives 2.4% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Broilers
Siaya recorded about 144,020 broilers in 2023. That ranks 12th of 47 counties and gives 2.6% of Kenya's total. Check farm gate prices on KAMIS and ask your sub-county agricultural office about buyers.
Sugarcane
In 2023 Siaya produced 2,710 tonnes of sugar. That ranks 13th of 13 counties and gives 0.6% of Kenya's output. Output rose 121% 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.
Where to Sell in Siaya
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 Siaya
- 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 1 cooperative societies running 1 factories in Siaya.
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Livestock
No named livestock market is in our directory for Siaya yet.
Ask the county livestock or veterinary office for market names and days. Never move animals without the right permits.
Fish
Landing points: Usenge, Luanda Kotieno and other Lake Victoria landing points.
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 Siaya 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 Siaya
The national strategy backs these products in Siaya. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in Siaya County
Siaya 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 Siaya’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 Siaya
What crops grow best in Siaya County?
Siaya ranks 3rd for sweet potatoes and 5th for sorghum. The biggest crop areas are maize (73,521 ha), dry beans (36,840 ha), sorghum (15,046 ha).
Which livestock is common in Siaya County?
Siaya ranks 2nd for quails, 9th for beef cattle, 10th for pigs. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit Siaya County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for Siaya above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is Siaya County in?
The national strategy places Siaya 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 Siaya 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 Siaya
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Plan, Fund and Scale Your Farm in Siaya
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 Siaya: 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 Siaya 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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