👥 Section 1 — Your Farmer Profile
💰 Section 2 — Loan Request
Check which Kenyan agricultural loan programs you qualify for — from AFC at 8% to SACCOs and microfinance. Repayment estimates in Kenyan Shillings.
In Kenya, agriculture contributes about 22% of GDP, employs roughly 54% of the labour force, the average farm is around 0.5 ha — so plan budgets, wages, and repayments around smallholder cash-flow cycles.
| Agriculture share of GDP | ~22% |
|---|---|
| Arable land | 6,300,000 ha |
| Irrigated share | ~3% |
| Main rainy season | March to December |
| Main food crops | maize, common bean, wheat, potato, sweet potato, sorghum |
| Main export crops | tea, coffee arabica, avocado, cut flowers |
| Region | Annual rainfall | Major crops |
|---|---|---|
| Central Highlands (Nyeri, Kiambu, Murang’a, Kirinyaga) | 1400 mm | tea, coffee arabica, maize, potato |
| Rift Valley Highlands (Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans-Nzoia, Kericho) | 1200 mm | wheat, maize, tea, potato |
| Western Kenya (Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia) | 1800 mm | sugar cane, maize, common bean, sweet potato |
| Nyanza (Kisii, Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya, Kisumu) | 1500 mm | maize, sugar cane, common bean, sweet potato |
| Eastern Semi-Arid (Machakos, Makueni, Kitui) | 700 mm | pigeon pea, sorghum, common bean, maize |
| Coast (Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River) | 1100 mm | cassava, mango, maize, common bean |
| North-Eastern / Arid (Turkana, Marsabit, Garissa, Wajir) | 250 mm | sorghum, pigeon pea |
Country context from the AfroTools agriculture dataset — planning reference, not agronomic advice. Confirm with local extension services.
Kenya has one of East Africa's most developed agricultural finance ecosystems. The Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), with over 60 years of experience, remains the primary government lender for Kenyan farmers at 8% per year. The SACCO sector — with over 5,000 cooperatives nationwide — provides the most accessible credit for rural smallholders. Equity Bank's BizAfrica and commercial bank products serve medium-scale farmers, while One Acre Fund bridges the gap for the smallest landholders with in-kind credit linked to harvest repayment.
AFC is Kenya's government agricultural development bank with over 60 years of history. It offers loans from KSh 50,000 to KSh 50 million at 8% per year, covering seasonal crop loans, livestock, farm improvement, and land purchase (up to 15-year tenure). Processing takes 4-12 weeks. Visit agrifinance.org or AFC offices.
SACCOs (Savings and Credit Cooperatives) are the most accessible credit for Kenyan farmers — there are over 5,000 SACCOs nationwide. You typically borrow up to 3× your savings at 10-15% per year. Join a SACCO and save for at least 6 months before applying. Your savings record is your collateral.
Yes — SACCOs use your savings and fellow-member guarantors instead of collateral. One Acre Fund provides seed and fertilizer on credit to smallholders (<1 ha) with no collateral required. AFC also accepts guarantors for smaller loans. Equity Bank accepts crop insurance in place of physical collateral.
One Acre Fund serves 1.5 million+ smallholder farmers across East Africa. They deliver seed, fertilizer, and training directly to farms — no cash is issued. Repayment happens after harvest. They also provide crop insurance. Only available in their service areas (check oneacrefund.org for coverage).
Data sources: AFC Kenya, Equity Bank, One Acre Fund. Rates as of 2025-2026.