KENYA · GUIDE 0006 · EDITION 4.2
Spring Onion Farming in Kenya: Seed, Water and Trading Checks
Describe the exact crop and selling arrangement
Write down the identified crop, county, plot, water source, proposed works and whether the operation grows raw onions, trades planting material or operates a separate stall. Different activities can raise different questions. This article identifies enquiry routes; it does not grant an approval or determine every requirement for a farm.
Start with the appropriate authority
| Topic | Enquiry route | Facts to provide |
|---|---|---|
| Planting material | KEPHIS | Named product, supplier and whether seed is being sold or used on the farm |
| Water | Water Resources Authority | Actual source, abstraction method and proposed works |
| Business structure | Business Registration Service | Intended name and legal form |
| Tax invoices | Kenya Revenue Authority | Buyer, seller and transaction arrangement |
| Local trading | Relevant county office | Farm-gate sale, delivery, separate stall or premises |
KEPHIS publishes seed-certification information. WRA provides water allocation and permitting guidance; ask whether the actual proposed source and works require approval. Land access does not itself settle the water-use question. Retain the authority’s answer, date and any conditions.
Keep the crop specification separate from the paperwork
Confirm with the buyer whether it expects a bunching onion or another identified product and whether roots are retained or trimmed. Obtain competent local crop advice before planting. This guide does not establish an exact cultivar, diagnose plant disease or prescribe a chemical product or rate.
Business registration does not automatically approve a water source, seed trade, market stall or food-processing activity. A buyer accepting bunches is a commercial outcome, not a regulatory certificate. If the operation changes from raw produce to processing or a different premises, describe that changed activity to the responsible authority.
Check invoices for the actual customer
KRA publishes eTIMS information and special-use routes. Confirm the appropriate invoicing arrangement for your transaction rather than copying another trader’s status. Do not assume an exemption, fee or processing time from this page.
Keep a concise enquiry record: authority, date, plot and activity described, response, conditions and unanswered questions. Complete applicable prerequisites before accepting orders that depend on them. Protect customer and supplier personal information in your records. No official approval or field inspection is claimed by this article.