Western Province has a total area of 8,435 Km 2 , of which some 6,670Km 2 are suitable for agricultural production and development. Half of that land is situated in Bungoma and Kakamega districts. The main AEZs range includes LM1-LM4, UM1-UM4, LH1-LH3, and tropical Alpines in Mt Elgon areas. To date 5,400 Km 2 of land or nearly 81% of land suitable for agricultural production is under cultivation. The Province has two rain seasons. Rainfall is seasonal, reliable and plentiful (1,000-2,400 mm per annum). The long rains season normally occurs between August and December, and the short rains season between February and May. Local rivers are perennial. The climate is suitable for a range of tropical and semi-tropical crops. Temperatures are in the range 12-30 o c. Elevation is 1,000-2,000 m above sea level. The general topography consists of rolling hills with scarps, with potential for irrigation.

Agriculture is the main economic activity in all the districts in the province. Soils are productive, but have become extensively depleted of nutrients. Tree cover has extensively been removed over the last two decades. Land has become fragmented with the rise in population and most holdings remain at subsistence production levels. Food crops of which surpluses generate household incomes are dominated by maize, root crops, groundnuts, vegetables and livestock. Although relatively minor, cash crops include coffee, tea and sugar.

Western province has a wide range of economic activities most of which fall within the agricultural sector (crops and livestock) as well as fisheries around Lake Victoria . Activities related to forestry, eco-tourism and mining are relatively minimal in the area. The main crops grown in the region are as follows:

•  Cereals (maize, sorghum, millet, rice and wheat);

•  Root crops (mainly cassava, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes);

•  Legumes (mainly ordinary beans, cow peas and green grams);

•  Oil crops (including groundnuts, sunflower, soya beans and simsim);

•  Industrial Crops (including cotton, sugarcane, tobacco, coffee, tea and pyrethrum);

•  Horticultural Produce ( mainly bananas, pineapples, pawpaws, passion fruits, mangoes, avocados, guavas, kales, tomatoes, cabbages, onions and a variety of indigenous vegetables).

The livestock-related economic activities mainly pertain to:

•  Dairy products and meat derived largely from zebu cows and goats (including dairy goats),

•  Chicken meat and eggs (mainly local birds);

•  Honey;