Nyandarua County
Highland plateau became potato capital—33% of national production from 70,000 farmers. By 2026: intensification sustainable or soil degradation accelerates.
Nyandarua exists because the Aberdare Range exists—this high plateau between Mount Kenya and the Rift Valley receives reliable rainfall that enables agriculture when surrounding lowlands struggle. The cold, wet climate that early European settlers found inhospitable became, after independence, the foundation for Kenya's potato and dairy heartland.
The numbers are remarkable: 37,000 hectares under potato cultivation supporting 70,000 smallholder farmers, generating over KSh 8 billion annually. Nyandarua produces an estimated 33% of Kenya's potatoes—making this single county responsible for one-third of national supply. Dairy complements potatoes; together they employ 69% of residents and contribute 73% of household income. The county government targets expanding production by 20%, from 555,000 to 666,000 metric tonnes annually.
Yet success strains resources. Decades of intensive cultivation have acidified soils and depleted fertility. Only 5% of planted seed potatoes are certified—95% come from informal sources, spreading disease and reducing yields. Rural roads become impassable during rains, stranding produce and creating post-harvest losses. The Kenya Sustainable Potato Initiative works to build stronger seed systems, but infrastructure and input challenges persist.
The county exhibits classic intensification dynamics: high productivity achieved through continuous pressure on limited land, with sustainability concerns accumulating. By 2026, whether soil restoration and seed certification programs can maintain productivity—or whether the highland breadbasket begins degrading—will determine Nyandarua's agricultural future.