What to Farm in West Pokot County: Crops, Livestock and Profit
West Pokot ranks 5th for beehives and 7th for beef cattle among Kenya's counties. Below is everything the latest national figures record there.
Where West Pokot Leads Kenya
Rank 1 means the biggest producer or herd among counties that report the product.
Beef cattle
538,879 animals
7th of 47 counties
3.3% of Kenya
Irish potatoes
96,109 tonnes
8th of 28 counties
8,009 ha · 12.0 t per ha · 4.2% of Kenya
Camels
21,343 animals
10th of 26 counties
0.5% of Kenya
Dry beans
19,962 tonnes
19th of 39 counties
25,166 ha · 0.8 t per ha · 2.4% of Kenya
Source: KNBS National Agriculture Production Report 2023 to 2024. Shares compare West Pokot with all of Kenya. Counties report figures to the national team and some years swing sharply.
Crops Grown in West Pokot: 2023 Figures
Area, output and yield for every crop the national report records in West Pokot.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Output | Yield (t per ha) | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | Not given | 42 t clean coffee | Not given | 23rd of 32 | <0.1% |
| Irish potatoes | 8,009 | 96,109 t | 12.0 | 8th of 28 | 4.2% |
| Finger millet | 451 | 550 t | 1.2 | 14th of 27 | 1.4% |
| Sweet potatoes | 431 | 5,903 t | 13.7 | 15th of 42 | 0.9% |
| Dry beans | 25,166 | 19,962 t | 0.8 | 19th of 39 | 2.4% |
| Green grams (ndengu) | 125 | 81 t | 0.6 | 23rd of 33 | <0.1% |
| Maize | 34,780 | 52,735 t | 1.5 | 25th of 47 | 1.4% |
| Sorghum | 301 | 348 t | 1.2 | 25th of 41 | 0.2% |
| Cowpeas | 60 | 42 t | 0.7 | 30th 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 West Pokot
Numbers kept in West Pokot in 2023, ranked against other counties.
| Animal or bird | Number kept | National rank | Share of Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wool sheep | 100,104 | 4th of 20 | 7.9% |
| Beef cattle | 538,879 | 7th of 47 | 3.3% |
| Hair sheep | 555,941 | 8th of 47 | 2.5% |
| Meat goats | 818,809 | 14th of 47 | 2.4% |
| Dairy cattle | 132,545 | 18th of 47 | 2.4% |
| Dairy goats | 1,753 | 37th of 47 | 0.3% |
| Beehives | 93,430 | 5th of 47 | 5.6% |
| Camels | 21,343 | 10th of 26 | 0.5% |
| Rabbits | 7,279 | 22nd of 46 | 0.9% |
| Donkeys | 3,395 | 34th of 46 | 0.2% |
| Pigs | 778 | 36th of 43 | <0.1% |
| Turkeys | 33,488 | 1st of 44 | 14.2% |
| Ducks | 18,893 | 6th of 45 | 3.6% |
| Geese | 8,538 | 11th of 43 | 4.3% |
| Indigenous chicken | 816,161 | 22nd of 47 | 1.5% |
| Pigeons | 50 | 28th of 28 | <0.1% |
| Layers | 11,307 | 40th of 47 | 0.2% |
| Broilers | 2,760 | 42nd of 47 | <0.1% |
When to Plant in West Pokot
West Pokot is in a one-season area. One main season. Plant in March to April and harvest in November to December.
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 West Pokot
Output of the leading products since 2019. Bars compare years, and the dark bar is the latest.
Irish potatoes
Up 262% since 2019
tonnes
Dry beans
Up 82% since 2019
tonnes
Finger millet
Down 31% since 2019
tonnes
Maize
Up 44% 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 West Pokot
A short read on each of the five strongest products, with the numbers behind it.
Beehives
West Pokot recorded about 93,430 beehives in 2023. That ranks 5th of 47 counties and gives 5.6% 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.
Beef cattle
West Pokot recorded about 538,879 beef cattle in 2023. That ranks 7th of 47 counties and gives 3.3% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Irish potatoes
In 2023 West Pokot produced 96,109 tonnes of Irish potatoes. That ranks 8th of 28 counties and gives 4.2% of Kenya's output. Farmers used 8,009 ha, a yield of 12.0 t per ha. That is about 24% above the national average of 9.7. Output rose 262% between 2019 and 2023. Plant in March to April. Sell through local markets, traders and millers. Compare prices on KAMIS before you sell.
Other leading counties: Nakuru, Nyandarua, Elgeyo Marakwet.
Hair sheep
West Pokot recorded about 555,941 hair sheep in 2023. That ranks 8th of 47 counties and gives 2.5% of Kenya's total. Sell through livestock markets and traders. Ask the county livestock office for market days.
Where to Sell in West Pokot
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 West Pokot
- 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 5 cooperative societies running 5 factories in West Pokot.
Access: most cherry moves through a cooperative society. Millers provide milling and are not automatic cherry buyers.
Livestock
West Pokot 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 West Pokot 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 West Pokot
The national strategy backs these products in West Pokot. Open a guide to see how each one is farmed.
Rain and Soil in West Pokot County
West Pokot 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 West Pokot’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 West Pokot
What crops grow best in West Pokot County?
West Pokot ranks 5th for beehives and 7th for beef cattle. The biggest crop areas are maize (34,780 ha), dry beans (25,166 ha), Irish potatoes (8,009 ha).
Which livestock is common in West Pokot County?
West Pokot ranks 1st for turkeys, 4th for wool sheep, 5th for beehives. The table above lists every animal and bird recorded.
Which fruits, vegetables and fish suit West Pokot County?
The national report has no county figures for these. See the strategy list for West Pokot above, then check local buyers and water.
What agro-ecological zone is West Pokot County in?
The national strategy places West Pokot 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 West Pokot 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 West Pokot
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 West Pokot
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 West Pokot: 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 West Pokot 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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