Start, Finance & Grow a Profitable Agribusiness
Agcenture is a Kenyan agribusiness knowledge and consulting platform. We help farmers, cooperatives and agri-SMEs to pick profitable enterprises, win finance and reach better markets.
Learn. Plan. Make better farming decisions.
Free farming guides, agrifinance resources and practical advice for Kenyan farmers.
Explore farming guidesHave an agribusiness idea or business to grow?
Feasibility studies, business plans, financing advice and market development.
Get agribusiness advisoryAgribusiness ideas, farm loans and market linkages in Kenya
Plan it. Fund it. Grow it. Sell it. Read the guides farmers use at each step, or let us work through it with you.
Agribusiness ideas
Test demand, costs and returns before you invest. Then write a plan you can follow.
- How to start a profitable agribusiness
- Most marketable agricultural products
- Cost of rearing 100 broilers or 100 layers
- How profitable is mushroom farming?
- Dairy, goat, sheep and pig farming
- Timber trees, forestry and ornamental trees
- Bankable business plans and farm business plans
We run feasibility studies and write business plans and cash flow forecasts a lender will read.
Agrifinance and farm loans
Compare farm loans, grants and insurance before you borrow.
- Agriculture finance in Kenya
- How to get farming loans in Kenya
- Loan security that lenders accept
- Quick farming loans and loan apps
- Government agriculture financing
- Crop and livestock insurance
We help with loans, grant writing and insurance.
Farming guides
Raise yields, feed well and cut losses on crops and livestock.
- Best fertiliser for each crop
- Seed choice: maize, beans, potatoes and kale
- Crop pests: aphids and fall armyworm
- Animal feed: homemade dairy feed, fodder crops, hay and azolla
- Livestock vaccination programme in Kenya
- More farming guides
We help with farm setup, records, tax and simple systems.
Value addition and market
Find buyers, add value and meet the rules for bigger markets.
- Value addition and maize milling
- Cereal business and storage
- How to start an agro-export business
- Horticulture crops for export
- How to export flowers
We help with buyer links, value addition and export rules.
Agribusiness opportunities in every Kenyan county
Tap your county on the map, or pick a zone. See what grows and sells in your area, with the guides to match.
Western
About 1.6 million farming households
- Crops
- 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.
BometDairy · Indigenous chicken · Irish potato · Maize
BungomaDairy · Indigenous chicken · Tomato
BusiaFish · Indigenous chicken · Groundnut
Elgeyo-MarakwetDairy · Indigenous chicken · Irish potato
Homa BayFish · Indigenous chicken · Sorghum
KakamegaDairy · Indigenous chicken · Maize
KerichoDairy · Indigenous chicken · Tomato
Irish potato, Fish, Passion fruit.
Ask about farming in KerichoKisiiBanana · Dairy · Indigenous chicken
Horticulture, Beef, Fish, Sweet potato.
Ask about farming in KisiiKisumuCotton · Fish · Indigenous chicken
Horticulture, Beef, Passion fruit.
Ask about farming in KisumuMigoriDairy · Indigenous chicken · Sweet potato
Horticulture, Fish, Beef, Honey.
Ask about farming in MigoriNandiDairy · Fish · Maize · Indigenous chicken
Irish potato, Horticulture, Beef, Passion fruit.
Ask about farming in NandiNyamiraBanana · Dairy · Indigenous vegetables
SiayaIndigenous chicken · Fish · Mango
Trans NzoiaDairy · Maize · Indigenous chicken
Horticulture, Irish potato, Rice.
Ask about farming in Trans NzoiaUasin GishuDairy · Maize · Indigenous chicken
Irish potato, Horticulture, Passion fruit.
Ask about farming in Uasin GishuVihigaBanana · Dairy · Indigenous chicken
Rift Valley
About 0.4 million farming households
- Crops
- Maize, wheat, sorghum, Irish potatoes and honey.
- Livestock and fish
- Goats, sheep, chicken and dairy cattle.
- Rain and soil
- One season of moderate rain. Mixed shallow and deep soils.
BaringoDairy · Honey · Meat goat
NakuruDairy · Fish · Pyrethrum
Irish potato, Horticulture, Beef, Maize, Rice.
Ask about farming in NakuruNarokBeef · Dairy · Maize
Central Highlands
About 1 million farming households
- Crops
- 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.
Nairobi, your nearest big market, is not coloured on the strategy’s map.
KiambuBanana · Dairy · Indigenous chicken
Irish potato, Horticulture, Beef.
Ask about farming in KiambuKirinyagaBanana · Dairy · Rice
MeruDairy · Indigenous chicken · Sorghum
Irish potato, Horticulture, Maize.
Ask about farming in MeruMurang’aDairy · French beans · Mango
Horticulture, Banana, Snow peas.
Ask about farming in Murang’aNairobiBroilers · Dairy · Kale
NyandaruaDairy · Fish · Irish potato
NyeriDairy · Irish potato · Indigenous chicken
Tharaka-NithiBanana · Dairy · Indigenous chicken
Semi-Arid Uplands
About 0.5 million farming households
- Crops
- Dryland crops such as sorghum and peas.
- Livestock and fish
- Beef cattle.
- Rain and soil
- One season of low rain. Acidic soils of low to medium fertility.
EmbuBanana · Dairy · Indigenous chicken
Irish potato, Horticulture, Beef.
Ask about farming in EmbuKajiadoBeef · Dairy · Tomato
KituiIndigenous chicken · Sorghum · Green grams
Horticulture, Cowpeas.
Ask about farming in KituiMachakosDairy · Indigenous chicken · Mango
Horticulture, Green grams, Cowpeas, Honey.
Ask about farming in MachakosMakueniIndigenous chicken · Mango · Green grams
Horticulture, Cowpeas, Honey.
Ask about farming in MakueniTana RiverBeef · Fish · Mango
Coast
About 0.3 million farming households
- Crops
- Maize, sorghum, millet, cashews and mangoes.
- Livestock and fish
- Poultry, plus sea fish, crabs, prawns and shellfish.
- Rain and soil
- Two seasons of moderate rain. A mix of sandy and fertile soils.
KilifiAfrican bird’s eye chilli · Cassava · Indigenous chicken
- African bird’s eye chilli
- Cassava
- Indigenous chicken
KwaleAfrican bird’s eye chilli · Indigenous chicken · Passion fruit
- African bird’s eye chilli
- Indigenous chicken
- Passion fruit
Fish.
Ask about farming in KwaleLamuCashew nut · Fish · Indigenous chicken
- Cashew nut
- Fish
- Indigenous chicken
MombasaFish · Indigenous chicken · Indigenous vegetables
Horticulture, Rice, Palm oil.
Ask about farming in MombasaNorthern ASALs
About 0.4 million farming households
- Crops
- Mostly pastoralism, with some maize on raised plateaus.
- Livestock and fish
- Camels, goats and sheep.
- Rain and soil
- One season of rain at best. Sandy, salty, low-fertility soils.
ManderaCamel milk · Meat goat · Tomato
MarsabitCamel milk · Kale · Meat goat
Horticulture, Beef, Fish.
Ask about farming in MarsabitTurkanaFish · Meat goat · Sorghum
Beef, Maize, Irish potato, Rice.
Ask about farming in TurkanaWajirCamel milk · Tomato · Watermelon
Central ASALs
About 0.3 million farming households
- Crops
- 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.
GarissaCamel milk · Beef · Tomato
IsioloBeef · Camel milk · Tomato
LaikipiaDairy · Maize · Sheep and goats
Irish potato, Horticulture, Poultry.
Ask about farming in LaikipiaSamburuBeef · Honey · Maize
Taita TavetaBanana · Dairy · Indigenous chicken
West PokotHoney · Indigenous chicken · Meat goat
Zones, household numbers and crops: Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) 2019 to 2029, section 2.4, with counties placed from the strategy’s map (Exhibit 11). County priorities: the Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP) and ASTGS, as compiled in our guide to the most marketable agricultural products in Kenya.
Kenya planting seasons and crop calendar
Every farm decision starts with the rains. Plan seed, fertiliser and cash before they arrive.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Long rains: March to May
The main planting season for most crops. Buy inputs and prepare land in February.
Short rains: October to December
A second season for quick crops. Dates shift by agro-ecological zone and county.
Farming guides for Kenya
Over 320 guides with Kenyan prices, rules and growing conditions.
Export produce from Kenya: KEPHIS, HCD and GlobalG.A.P.
Once you grow well, sell further. Buyers check permits and audits first.
1. Register
Register as an exporter with the Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD).
2. Certify
Get a KEPHIS phytosanitary certificate for each consignment.
3. Audit
Get GlobalG.A.P. certified when your buyer asks for it.
How Agcenture helps
- We map the permits, audits and buyer rules for your product.
- We check your readiness before you pay for audits.
- We cost your first shipment and plan the funding.
Farm loans, grants and insurance
Growing and exporting need cash. Most farm loans fail on weak plans, wrong terms or missing security.
Before you borrow
Check these five things. A lender will.
- A costed plan with a cash flow forecast
- Proof of a market: buyers, prices and volumes
- A loan term that fits your crop or livestock cycle
- Security the lender accepts
- The full cost: interest, fees and insurance
Agribusiness consulting services
Want a specialist beside you? Each service fixes one problem that sinks Kenyan farms.
Start
Check the market, then plan.
Finance
Find funding you can repay.
Grow and market
Add value and find buyers.
Tell us about your project
Share your enterprise, county and what you need. We reply within 24 hours. Studies, plans and proposals are quoted separately.
- WhatsApp and phone+254 751 360 919
- Emailinfo@agcenture.com
- LocationNairobi, Kenya
- HoursMonday to Friday, 8am to 5pm EAT
Frequently asked questions
Which agribusiness is most profitable in Kenya?
No single enterprise wins everywhere. Profit depends on your market, land, capital and skill. Compare margin per acre and speed of payment, then test demand first.
Which lenders give farm loans in Kenya?
Options include AFC, commercial banks, SACCOs and microfinance lenders. Compare interest, fees and repayment terms before you sign. Ask each lender how it handles seasonal repayment.
Can I get a farm loan without a title deed?
Sometimes. Some lenders accept livestock, equipment, produce contracts or group guarantees. Each lender sets its own rules, so ask before you apply.
Can small farmers export produce from Kenya?
Yes, usually through an exporter, a cooperative or a contracted outgrower scheme. Exporting directly needs registration, certificates and cash for the first shipment.
Do Kenyan farmers pay tax?
Farm income is taxable. Many unprocessed products are exempt or zero-rated for VAT, but rules change with each Finance Act. Confirm with KRA or an accountant.
Which crops grow best in my county?
Rainfall, altitude and soil decide. Find your zone on the county map above, then check market demand before you plant.
How do I register an agribusiness in Kenya?
Choose a structure: sole proprietor, partnership, company or cooperative. Register through the Business Registration Service on eCitizen, or the State Department for Cooperatives for a society. Then get a KRA PIN and your county business permit.