Agriculture is the foundation of Bomet County's economy, with tea as dominant crop supplemented by diverse farming activities. The agricultural sector employs the majority of the population and generates primary household incomes.
Primary Crops
Main crops include:
- Tea (dominant cash crop)
- Maize (staple food crop)
- Beans and legumes
- Vegetables and horticultural crops
- Bananas and plantains
- Potatoes
- Pyrethrum (limited production)
- Dairy cattle
Livestock Integration
Livestock systems include:
- Dairy cattle production
- Small ruminants (goats, sheep)
- Beef cattle raising
- Poultry and chickens
- Integrated crop-livestock farming
- Manure for soil fertility
- Wealth accumulation function
Farming Systems
Agricultural systems characterized by:
- Smallholder farms
- Integrated crop-livestock systems
- Perennial crops (tea) with annuals
- Family labor-intensive
- Market orientation for tea
- Food security emphasis on staples
Production Challenges
Agriculture faces obstacles:
- Land fragmentation and size constraints
- Water availability in dry areas
- Pest and disease pressures
- Soil fertility decline
- Climate variability
- Input access and cost
Extension Services
Support services include:
- County government extension agents
- Cooperative training programs
- NGO farmer training initiatives
- Demonstration farms
- Technology promotion
- Market information services
Market Systems
Agricultural markets involve:
- Tea factory collection systems
- Dairy cooperative marketing
- Vegetable market sales
- Grain and commodity trading
- Direct consumer sales
- Wholesale market participation
Cooperative Organizations
Farmer groups and cooperatives:
- Facilitate input acquisition
- Organize output marketing
- Provide credit services
- Conduct farmer training
- Support value addition
- Enable collective action
See Also
Sources
- Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (2022). "Agricultural Systems in Rift Valley: Bomet County". https://www.kalro.org
- Bomet County Government (2023). "County Agricultural Development Plan 2023-2028". https://www.bometcounty.go.ke
- FAO (2021). "Smallholder Agriculture in East Africa". https://www.fao.org