1800/1900-2200/2400 m asl. Moderately Cool, annual mean temp. 15-18oC. Mean min.8-11oC; Frosts very rare & only limited to basins & valleys. Humid; annual average precipation at least 80% of potential evaporation.

Practices: Tea & Dairy farming Zones. Forest reserves

hill mountain Lower Highland Zone 2 (LH2)

1800/1900-2200/2400 m asl. Moderately Cool, annual mean temp. 15-18oC. Mean min.8-11oC; Frosts very rare & only limited to basins & valleys. Sub-humid; annual average precipation at least 65-80 % of potential evaporation.

Practices: Wheat, Maize & pyrethrum farming

hill mountain Lower Highland Zone 3 (LH3)

1800/1900-2200/2400 m asl. Moderately Cool, annual mean temp. 15-18oC. Mean min.8-11oC; Frosts very rare & only limited to basins & valleys. Semi-humid; annual average precipation 50-65% of potential evaporation; Average growing periods at least 115 days in 6 out 10 years.

Practices: Wheat, Maize & Barley Farming

hill mountain Lower Highland Zone 4 (LH4)

1800/1900-2200/2400 m asl. Moderately Cool & Transitional, annual mean temp. 15-18oC. Mean min.8-11oC; Frosts very rare & only limited to basins & valleys. Annual average precipation 40-50% of potential evaporation & growing periods at least 105 days in 6 out 10 year

Practices: Barley farming, Cattle & sheep farming

wet irrigated Lower midland zone 1(LM1)

800-about 1300 m asl in Eastern Kenya & 1500 m asl in Western. Warm, annual mean temp. 21-24oC. Mean min.more than 14oC. Humid; annual average precipation at least 80% of potential evaporation.

Practices: Sugarcane farming good, Maize farming fair

wet irrigated Lower midland zone 2(LM2)

800-about 1300 m asl in Eastern Kenya & 1500 m asl in Western. Warm, annual mean temp. 21-24oC. Mean min.more than 14oC. Sub-humid; annual average precipation at least 65-80 % of potential evaporation.

Practices: Sugarcane farming marginal, Maize farming good

wet irrigated Lower midland zone 3(LM3)

800-about 1300 m asl in Eastern Kenya & 1500 m asl in Western. Warm, annual mean temp. 21-24oC. Mean min.more than 14oC. Semi-humid; annual average precipation at least 50-65% of potential evaporation.

Practices: Maize & Cotton farming. Irrigated rice farming

other Lower midland zone 4(LM4)

800-about 1300 m asl in Eastern Kenya & 1500 m asl in Western. Warm, annual mean temp. 21-24oC. Mean min.more than 14oC. Transitional; annual average precipation 40-50% of potential evaporation (or more in bimodal rainfall areas).

Practices: Maize , pigeobn pea & Sisal farming. Marginal cotton farming.

dry arid Lower midland zone 5(LM5)

800-about 1300 m asl in Eastern Kenya & 1500 m asl in Western. Warm, annual mean temp. 21-24oC. Mean min.more than 14oC. Semi-arid; annual average precipation at least 25-40% of potential evaporation. Growing periods at least 45 days in 6 out of 10 years.

Practices: Millet, Cowpeas & grams growing fair. Fair sisal farming climatic condition. Livestock grazing at low density.

plains Lowerland zone 2(L2) / Inner lowland (IL2)

0-800 m asl. Hot, annual mean temp. more than 24oC. Sub-humid; annual average precipation at least 65-80 % of potential evaporation.

Practices: Sugarcane, Cassava, Rice, Maize & Coconut farming

wet irrigated Lowerland zone 3(L3)

0-800 m asl. Hot, annual mean temp. more than 24oC. Semi-humid; annual average precipation at least 50-65% of potential evaporation.

Practices: Cassava, Coconut, cotton farming.

other Lowerland zone 4(L4)

0-800 m asl. Hot, annual mean temp. more than 24oC. Transitional; annual average precipation 40-50% of

Practices: Cassava & Cashewnut farming. Marginal climatic condition for cotton & coconut. Large scale sisal farming.

dry arid Lowerland zone 5(L5)

0-800 m asl. Hot, annual mean temp. more than 24oC. Semi-arid; annual average precipation at least 25-40% of potential evaporation. Growing periods at least 40 days in 6 out of 10 years.

Practices: Cassava & Cashewnut farming. Marginal climatic condition for cotton & coconut. Large scale sisal farming.

hill mountain Upper Highland Zone 1 (UH 1)

2200/2400-3000/3200 m asl. Cool, annual mean temp. 10-15oC. Mean nightly min. below 8oC; Night frosts ocassionally in cold seasons.Humid; annual average precipation more than 80% of potential evaporation. Dry seasons negligible.

Practices: Sheep & Dairy farming. Climatic conditions not suitable for grain crops except oats. Forest farming on the slopes.

hill mountain Upper Highland Zone 2 (UH2)

2200/2400-3000/3200 m asl. Cool, annual mean temp. 10-15oC. Mean nightly min. below 8oC; Night frosts ocassionally in cold seasons. Sub-humid; annual average precipation 65-80% of potential evaporation.

Practices: Good for Pyrethrum & fair for wheat farming.

hill mountain Upper Highland Zone 3 (UH3)

2200/2400-3000/3200 m asl. Cool &transitional, annual mean temp. 10-15oC. Mean nightly min. below 8oC; Night frosts ocassionally in cold seasons. Semi-humid; annual average precipation 50-65% of potential evaporation & growing periods at least 130 days in 6 out 10 years.

Practices: Wheat & Barley farming

wet irrigated Upper midland zone 1(UM1)

1300/1500-1800/1900 m asl. Temperate, annual mean temp. 18-21oC. Mean min.11-14oC; Absolutely No frosts. Humid; annual average precipation more than 80% of potential evaporation. .

Practices: Tea, Coffee & Maize farming

wet irrigated Upper midland zone 2 (UM2)

1300/1500-1800/1900 m asl. Temperate, annual mean temp. 18-21oC. Mean min.11-14oC; Absolutely No frosts. Sub-humid; annual average precipation 65-80 % of potential evaporation.

Practices: Coffee & Maize farming

wet irrigated Upper midland zone 3 (UM3)

1300/1500-1800/1900 m asl. Temperate, annual mean temp. 18-21oC. Mean min.11-14oC; Absolutely No frosts. Semi-humid; annual average precipation at least 50-65% of potential evaporation.

Practices: Maize farming, Rainfed & irrigated coffee farming

other Upper midland zone 4 (UM4)

1300/1500-1800/1900 m asl. Temperate, annual mean temp. 18-21oC. Mean min.11-14oC; Absolutely No frosts. Transitional; annual average precipation at least 40-50% of potential evaporation.

Practices: Maize & Sunflower farming good under unimodal rainfall, but fair under bimodal. Sisal farming in upper zone under large scale

dry arid Upper midland zone 5(UM5)

1300/1500-1800/1900 m asl. Temperate, annual mean temp. 18-21oC. Mean min.11-14oC; Absolutely No frosts.Semi-arid; annual average precipation at least 25-40% of potential evaporation. Growing periods at least 65 days in 6 out of 10 years.

Practices: Sorghum growing fair, Maize growing poor, Marginal siasal farming, livestock farming

Kenya Crop Calendar

Sow this November

Peanut

Chick-pea

All crops in Kenya

Chick-pea

Peanut

Bean, broad green

Cabbage, common

Carrot

Corn, sweet

Cowpea

Onion

Pea, dry

Potato

Pumpkin

Rice

Sesame

Sorghum

Soybean

Sunflower

Tomato

Watermelon

Wheat, bread

Agro-ecological zones