Row Crops
Examples: Wheat, Maize, Rice, Sorghum, Barley
Regions Grown
- Predominantly cultivated in Kenya’s Rift Valley, parts of Uganda (e.g., Eastern Region), and northern Tanzania (e.g., Arusha, Manyara).
- Maize and rice are common in lowland and mid-altitude zones; wheat thrives in highlands above 1,800m.
Regions Grown & Production by Country (2022–2023 data)
Country | Maize (MT) | Wheat (MT) | Rice (MT) | Sorghum (MT) | Barley (MT) |
Kenya | 3.2M | 350K | 180K | 120K | 65K |
Tanzania | 6.7M | 100K | 2.5M | 850K | 45K |
Uganda | 2.8M | 25K | 290K | 400K | – |
Ethiopia | 10.2M | 5.1M | 1.1M | 4.2M | 520K |
Rwanda | 500K | 3K | 135K | 70K | – |
Burundi | 220K | – | 45K | 60K | – |
Best Producer in East Africa
- Maize: Ethiopia & Tanzania
- Wheat: Ethiopia (by far the largest)
- Rice: Tanzania
- Sorghum: Ethiopia
- Barley: Ethiopia
Top Producers in Other African Regions
| Region | Top Countries & Crop Strengths |
| West Africa | 🇳🇬 Nigeria – Maize (11M MT), Sorghum (6M MT), Rice (5.4M MT) |
| 🇲🇱 Mali & 🇬🇭 Ghana – Growing rice and maize sectors | |
| Central Africa | 🇨🇲 Cameroon – Maize (~2.5M MT), Rice (~340K MT) |
| 🇨🇩 DRC – Rice, cassava (staple) but low yields due to poor inputs | |
| Southern Africa | 🇿🇦 South Africa – Top maize producer in Africa (15.5M MT), barley & wheat leader |
| 🇿🇲 Zambia – Strong maize surplus (3.5–4.2M MT), exporter to East Africa |
Export Trends
- Primarily for domestic markets; limited export of rice and wheat due to deficit.
- Barley is grown under contract farming for local beer industries (e.g., Kenya Breweries Ltd).
Yield Losses
- Up to 30–50%loss due to pests and diseases in poorly managed systems
- Post-harvest losses (especially maize): an additional 20–25%due to poor storage and aflatoxin contamination
Economic Impact
- Row crops are the backbone of East Africa’s food security and rural employment.
- Maize is the region’s staple, contributing over 30% of caloric intake in Kenya and Uganda.
- Wheat and rice consumption have grown with urbanization and dietary changes.
Growth Trends (2000–2023)
- Maize: Area under production has expanded, but yield remains below global average (~1.8–2.5 tons/Ha vs 5–8 tons/Ha globally).
- Rice: Fastest-growing cereal crop due to increased demand; imports still meet over 70% of consumption.
- Wheat: Declining area due to climate vulnerability and rising input costs, but prices have soared post-2020 due to global supply disruptions.
Agronomic Pain Points
- Pests: Fall armyworm (maize), stem borers, Quelea birds (sorghum, wheat)
- Diseases: Maize lethal necrosis (MLN), rice blast, rusts in wheat
- Soil issues: Nutrient depletion and acidification
- Weather extremes: Droughts, erratic rainfall