Agriculture is by far the single most important economic activity in Africa. It provides employment for about two-thirds of the continent’s working population and for each country contributes an average of 30 to 60 percent of gross domestic product and about 30 percent of the value of exports. Nonetheless, arable land and land under permanent crops occupy only about 6 percent of Africa’s total land area.
In many parts of Africa, farmers practice shifting cultivation, also known as slash-and-burn agriculture. They clear a new field from the forest every year, crop it for a few years, and then abandon it to fallow for a period of time to allow the soil to regenerate. This practice is common in areas with abundant forest resources and low population density. Subsistence farming is the dominant form of agriculture in Africa, where farmers grow crops primarily for their own consumption rather than for commercial purposes. Subsistence farming is often practiced by smallholder farmers with limited access to resources and markets.
In some regions of Africa, cash crops such as coffee, cocoa, tea, cotton, and tobacco are grown for export. These crops play a significant role in the economies of certain African countries, providing income for farmers and generating foreign exchange. Similarly, Africa produces all the principal grains—corn, wheat, and rice—in that order of importance. Corn has the widest distribution, being grown in virtually all ecological zones. In 2020, only four countries – Lesotho, Malawi, Ethiopia and Benin – had government expenditures in agriculture that met or exceeded the target of 10% of annual public expenditures. Africa-wide, just 2.1% of public budget expenditures were dedicated to agricultural spending. Similarly in 2020, only eight countries met the 6% agricultural value-added growth rate target – Lesotho, Zambia, South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Angola, Kenya and Guinea.
Facts & Figures
1- Agriculture remains a pillar of Africa’s economy
Despite the significant variations across countries, agriculture is a key sector in Africa. In 2022, it represented around 17 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP, growing by over two percentage points compared to 2011. The agricultural industry also strongly contributes to the continent’s job market. The number of people employed in the primary sector in Africa grew from around 197 million in 2011 to 230 million in 2021.
In proportion, agriculture employed approximately 43 percent of Africa’s working population in 2021. Agricultural activities attracted a large share of the labour force in Central, East, and West Africa, which registered percentages over the regional average. On the other hand, North Africa recorded the lowest share of employment in agriculture, as the regional economy relies significantly on the industrial and service sectors.
Agricultural contribution to Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy 2022, by GDP
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – 17%
Number of people employed in the primary sector in Africa 2011-2021
- 2011 – 197 million
- 2021 – 230 million
Agricultural working population in Africa 2021, by percentage
- 2021 – 43%
2- Agricultural land area in Africa 2021, by country
Sudan had the largest agricultural land area in Africa in 2021, corresponding to around 113 million hectares. Following, South Africa and Nigeria had roughly 96.3 million and 68.6 million hectares of land under agricultural activities, respectively. In proportion to the total land area, Lesotho was the African country with the largest share of land devoted to agriculture.
Land under agricultural activities in Africa (million hectares)
- Sudan – 113
- South Africa – 96.3
- Nigeria – 68.6
3- Cereals are among the most produced crops in Africa 2021
Agricultural production varies significantly across African countries in terms of products and volume. Cereals such as rice, corn, and wheat are among the main crops on the continent, also representing a staple in most countries. The leading cereal producers are Ethiopia, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa. Together, they recorded a cereal output of almost 100 million metric tons in 2021.
Additionally, rice production was concentrated in Nigeria, Egypt, Madagascar, and Tanzania. In 2021, rice production in Nigeria amounted to around 8.3 million metric tons, making the country the leading rice producer in Africa. Egypt and Madagascar followed with an output of about 4.8 million and 4.4 million metric tons of rice, respectively.
Top Cereal Producing Countries (100 million metric tons)
- Ethiopia
- Nigeria
- Egypt
- South Africa
Top Rice Producing Countries (million metric tons)
- Nigeria – 8.3
- Egypt – 4.8
- Madagascar – 4.4
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Sources: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Britannica; Statista Research Department, Angola Transperency.
