Industrial & Oil crops
Coffee, Tea, Sugarcane, Tobacco, Cotton, Groundnuts, etc.
Regions Grown & Production by Crop (2024)
| Crop | Key Regions in Kenya | Estimated Area (Ha) | 2024 Production Volume |
| Coffee | Central, Rift Valley, Western Kenya | 105,000 | 750,000 bags (60 kg each) |
| Tea | Kericho, Bomet, Nandi, Nyeri, Murang’a | 157,720 | 598.47 million kg |
| Sugarcane | Western Kenya, Nyanza, Coast | 252,000 | 10.4 million metric tons |
| Tobacco | Migori, Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay | ~16,000 | ~7,200 metric tons |
| Cotton | 21 counties including Kitui, Siaya, Busia | 10,641 | <6,086 metric tons |
| Groundnuts | Western Kenya, Nyanza, Rift Valley | 9,800 | N/A |
Economic Impact
- Coffee: In 2024, Kenya exported 53,519 tonnes of coffee, generating KES 38.4 billion (US$296.8 million), up from US$251 million in 2023.
- Tea: The tea industry earned KES 250 billion (US$1.93 billion) in 2024, with exports contributing KES 215 billion (US$1.66 billion).
- Sugarcane: Sugar production is expected to increase by 40% in marketing year 2024/25 to 750,000 metric tons, due to an increase in area harvested after the expiration of a ban on sugarcane harvesting.
- Tobacco: The Kenyan tobacco market expanded to $303 million in 2024, increasing by 4.9% against the previous year.
- Cotton: The total area dedicated to cotton farming amounted to 10,641 hectares, with production falling significantly short of the targeted 6,086 metric tons of seed cotton.
- Groundnuts: Groundnuts are mainly grown in western Kenya by small-scale farmers both for food and sale.
Top African Producers by Crop
| Crop | Key Regions in Kenya | Estimated Area (Ha) | 2024 Production Volume |
| Coffee | Central, Rift Valley, Western Kenya | 105,000 | 750,000 bags (60 kg each) |
| Tea | Kericho, Bomet, Nandi, Nyeri, Murang’a | 157,720 | 598.47 million kg |
| Sugarcane | Western Kenya, Nyanza, Coast | 252,000 | 10.4 million metric tons |
| Tobacco | Migori, Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay | ~16,000 | ~7,200 metric tons |
| Cotton | 21 counties including Kitui, Siaya, Busia | 10,641 | <6,086 metric tons |
| Groundnuts | Western Kenya, Nyanza, Rift Valley | 9,800 | N/A |
Growth Trends (2000–2024)
- Coffee: Production decreased by 6.3% in 2024 due to stagnation of harvested area and a drop in yields.
- Tea: Production increased by 4.95% in 2024, reaching 598.47 million kg, up from 570.26 million kg in 2023.
- Sugarcane: Sugar production is expected to increase by 40% in marketing year 2024/25 to 750,000 metric tons.
- Tobacco: Kenya’s tobacco production has experienced a consistent decrease, with an average annual reduction of 4.3% since 1966.
- Cotton: The performance of the crop was slightly better in the last season 2023, in comparison to the previous period 2022.
- Groundnuts: Groundnuts are mainly grown in western Kenya by small-scale farmers both for food and sale.
Estimated Losses
- Pest & Disease: Up to 30% yield loss if unmanaged.
- Post-Harvest: Approximately 20% loss due to inadequate handling and storage.
Agronomic Challenges
| Challenge | Impact |
| Pests | Infestations affecting crop quality and yields |
| Diseases | Fungal and bacterial infections leading to crop losses |
| Climate Stress | Drought and erratic rainfall impacting flowering and fruit set |
| Input Costs | High costs of quality seeds and fertilizers |
| Post-Harvest Losses | Inadequate storage and processing facilities leading to quality degradation |