By Brandon Moss

Africa’s agricultural sector continues to play a central role in food security, employment, rural livelihoods and international trade, with countries across the continent developing strong production bases in crops ranging from cassava and yams to cocoa, tea, maize and vanilla.

The latest available FAOSTAT crop-production dataset covers agricultural production through 2024. Production is measured in tonnes, with FAO drawing primarily on official national statistics, surveys, administrative data and country reports.

The following 11 countries stand out for their production of major agricultural commodities.

1. Nigeria

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s biggest agricultural producers, with major production in cassava, yams, rice, bananas and ginger.

In 2024, Nigeria produced approximately 62.63 million tonnes of cassava, making it the world’s largest cassava producer. Its yam production reached approximately 65.32 million tonnes, also ranking Nigeria first globally.

Rice production reached 9.13 million tonnes in 2024, up from 8.90 million tonnes in 2023. Nigeria is also Africa’s leading ginger producer, although production has been affected by disease outbreaks in recent years.

Major production: Cassava – 62.63 million tonnes; Yam – 65.32 million tonnes; Rice – 9.13 million tonnes; Ginger – approximately 764,000 tonnes.

2. South Africa

South Africa has one of the continent’s most developed commercial agricultural sectors and is a major producer of maize, apples and other high-value crops.

The country remains a leading maize producer in Africa, while its apple industry has developed a substantial export market. FAOSTAT-based data put South African apple production at approximately 1.33 million tonnes in 2024.

South Africa’s established commercial farming systems, mechanisation, irrigation, cold storage and export infrastructure have helped the country maintain a strong position in African agriculture.

Major production: Maize – major African production; Apples – approximately 1.33 million tonnes in 2024.

3. Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a major agricultural producer in East Africa, particularly in coffee and wheat. Agriculture remains central to the country’s economy and rural employment.

FAOSTAT data show that Ethiopia produced approximately 6.19 million tonnes of wheat in 2024, making it the second-largest wheat producer in Africa behind Egypt.

Coffee is another major commodity. Ethiopia’s 2024/25 coffee production was estimated at approximately 10.63 million 60-kilogram bags, equivalent to roughly 638,000 tonnes, according to USDA estimates.

Major production: Wheat – 6.19 million tonnes; Coffee – approximately 638,000 tonnes for the 2024/25 marketing year.

4. Tanzania

Tanzania is an important producer of beans and a wide range of food and cash crops. Beans are particularly important to household food security and regional trade.

The country also has significant production of maize, rice, tobacco and other agricultural commodities, giving Tanzania an increasingly diversified agricultural base.

Major production: Beans – a major national crop; the country also produces significant volumes of maize, rice and other food crops.

5. Kenya

Kenya is best known internationally for its tea production, which remains one of the country’s most important agricultural export industries.

The country’s tea sector supplies international markets and provides income for large numbers of farmers and workers. Kenya also produces coffee, vegetables, flowers, fruits and other horticultural products.

Major production: Tea – Kenya remains one of Africa’s leading tea producers and exporters.

6. Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has traditionally been a major tobacco producer and has increasingly developed its blueberry industry.

Tobacco remains one of the country’s most important agricultural export commodities. Zimbabwe has also invested heavily in high-value horticulture, particularly blueberries, as farmers seek to diversify export earnings.

FAOSTAT-based data show Zimbabwe produced about 183,000 tonnes of unmanufactured tobacco in 2022, illustrating the scale of the country’s tobacco industry.

Major production: Tobacco – approximately 183,000 tonnes in 2022; blueberries are an expanding high-value export crop.

7. Egypt

Egypt has one of Africa’s most diverse agricultural production systems, supported by irrigation along the Nile Valley and Delta.

The country is a major producer of dates, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, oranges, strawberries, cucumbers, garlic and sugar beet. It is also Africa’s largest wheat producer, with approximately 9.4 million tonnes of wheat recorded in 2024.

Egypt’s combination of irrigation established farming systems and access to European, Middle Eastern and African markets has strengthened its position in fresh produce and processed agricultural trade.

Major production: Wheat – 9.4 million tonnes; dates, tomatoes, oranges, potatoes, onions, strawberries, cucumbers, garlic and sugar beet are also major crops.

8. Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s leading cocoa-producing country, making the crop one of the most important pillars of its agricultural economy.

Cocoa supports millions of livelihoods directly and indirectly and is one of the country’s most important sources of export earnings.

The country’s position in global cocoa production also gives it considerable influence over international cocoa supply and prices.

Major production: Cocoa – Côte d’Ivoire remains the world’s leading producer.

9. Benin

Benin is one of Africa’s major cotton-producing countries, with cotton playing an important role in rural employment, farmer incomes and export earnings.

The crop has historically been one of Benin’s principal agricultural commodities and remains central to the country’s agricultural economy.

Major production: Cotton – Benin is among Africa’s leading cotton producers.

10. Madagascar

Madagascar dominates Africa’s vanilla industry and is also one of the world’s most important vanilla-producing countries.

In 2024, Madagascar produced approximately 3,090 tonnes of vanilla, ranking first among the countries tracked in the FAOSTAT-based dataset.

Vanilla is a high-value export commodity and generates significant foreign exchange for Madagascar despite the relatively small volume compared with bulk agricultural commodities.

Major production: Vanilla – 3,090 tonnes in 2024.

11. Malawi

Malawi’s agricultural sector is dominated by smallholder farming and plays a critical role in national food security and rural livelihoods.

The country is recognised for production of sweet potatoes and mangoes, while maize remains the country’s most important staple crop. Sweet potatoes are particularly important because of their contribution to household food security and dietary diversification.

Major production: Sweet potatoes and mangoes, alongside major staple crops including maize.

Africa’s Agricultural Production Potential

The production figures demonstrate the enormous diversity of African agriculture. Nigeria dominates global cassava and yam production, South Africa has developed major commercial maize and fruit industries, Ethiopia is expanding wheat and coffee production, Kenya remains a major tea producer, Côte d’Ivoire dominates cocoa, while Madagascar holds a commanding position in vanilla.

FAOSTAT notes that its production figures represent harvested production and can include quantities consumed on farms, marketed quantities and certain on-holding losses and wastage. The dataset covers production through 2024 and is updated annually.

For Africa to capture more value from this production, greater investment in irrigation, storage, transport, processing, cold-chain infrastructure and agricultural technology will be essential. Increasing local processing would allow more countries to move beyond exporting raw commodities and capture a greater share of the value generated along agricultural supply chains.