At a Glance
- Nigeria leads Africa with 36.87 million hectares of arable land, more than double Niger’s total land size.
- Uganda’s Sango Bay Estates ranks as Africa’s largest private farmland, blending conservation and sugar production across 65,000 hectares with 60,000 tonnes annual output.
- Zambia’s Nakambala Sugar Estates produces 90% of national sugar, covering 28,000 hectares and supporting 6,700 jobs.
Africa’s largest farms showcase the continent’s immense agricultural capacity across diverse countries and sectors. Nigeria leads with 36.87 million hectares of arable land—more than double that of Niger, the continent’s second-largest. Although Sudan has the greatest total agricultural land, it features prominently through DAL Group, one of its largest farming enterprises.
While South Africa’s Tswalu Kalahari, spanning over 111,000 hectares, is the largest private reserve, its former agricultural use places Uganda’s Sango Bay Estates ahead as the largest privately owned active farmland at 65,000 hectares. The estate blends conservation with commercial agriculture, producing 60,000 metric tonnes of sugar annually.
Nigeria’s Kereksuk Rice Farm covers 45,000 hectares, making it the country’s second-largest commercial rice farm, employing 600 locals. Zambia’s Nakambala Sugar Estates, with 28,000 hectares, produces over 90 percent of the nation’s sugar, employing 6,700 people and generating renewable energy. Saro Agro-allied farm, an emerging large-scale commercial farming project, emerged fourth on the list.
Sudan’s DAL Group operates on 13,000 hectares with diversified agribusiness ventures supporting food security. Nigeria’s Shonga Farms also covers 13,000 hectares divided into 13 commercial farms producing maize, rice, poultry, and more for companies like KFC.
South Africa’s Dutoit Agri (4,500 hectares) and Westfalia Fruit Estates (1,800 hectares) are major fruit producers. Crookes Brothers Ltd spans thousands of hectares across Southern Africa cultivating sugarcane and bananas.
Finally, Nigeria’s Imota Rice Mill, spanning 22 hectares, stands as Africa’s largest rice mill, producing 2.8 million 50kg bags annually and significantly boosting food security. Shore Africa has documented these vast farmlands across the continent—here’s a closer look at Africa’s agricultural powerhouses.
1. Sango Bay Estates – Uganda
Location: Kakuuto, Rakai District
Size: Approximately 65,000 hectares
Overview: A sugar manufacturer, Sango Bay Estates is among Uganda’s largest sugar producers, with an annual production capacity projected at 60,000 metric tonnes.
2. Kereksuk Rice Farm
Location: Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Size: 45,000 hectares
Overview: Owned by Rotimi Williams, Kereksuk is Nigeria’s second-largest commercial rice farm, employing over 600 locals and contributing significantly to the country’s rice production.
3. Nakambala Sugar Estates – Zambia
Location: Mazabuka, Southern Province
Size: 28,000 hectares
Overview: Nakambala Sugar Estates, operated by Zambia Sugar Plc in Mazabuka, Southern Province, is Zambia’s largest sugar operation and a cornerstone of the national economy. Established in 1964 by Tate & Lyle, the estate integrates large-scale sugarcane cultivation and processing, serving both domestic and export markets while driving rural employment and industrial growth. Covering about 28,000 hectares—17,000 directly managed by Zambia Sugar and the rest by commercial and small-scale growers—it accounts for over 90% of Zambia’s sugar production and employs roughly 6,700 people. Nakambala also produces renewable electricity from bagasse and supports local communities with clean water and essential infrastructure.
4. Saro Agro-Allied Farm – Nigeria
Location: Edo State
Size: Over 24,000 hectares
Overview: An emerging large-scale commercial farming project, Saro Agro-Allied Farm focuses on the cultivation of staple crops such as rice and maize, advancing Nigeria’s agro-industrial capacity.
5. DAL Group – Sudan
Size: 13,000 hectares
Location: Khartoum, Sudan Overview: Founded by Osama Daoud Abdellatif, DAL Group is Sudan’s largest privately owned conglomerate with operations spanning agriculture, food production, engineering, and consumer goods. The group manages expansive agribusiness ventures including flour milling, dairy production, and large-scale farming, playing a central role in Sudan’s food security and economic development.
6. Shonga Farms – Nigeria
Location: Kwara State
Size: 13,000 hectares comprises 13 commercial farms
Overview: A public-private multi-million dollar partnership initiative, Shonga Farms engages in mixed, dairy, and poultry farming. It produces maize, rice, cassava, ginger, soya bean, milk, and poultry meat, supplying products to companies like KFC and WAMCO. The Shonga Farms scheme involved the Kwara State Government providing 13,000 hectares of land, with each of the 13 commercial farmers receiving 1,000 hectares on a 25-year renewable lease.
7. Dutoit Agri – South Africa
Location: Ceres, Western Cape
Size: 4,500 hectares
Overview: Headquartered in Ceres, Western Cape, Dutoit Agri is one of South Africa’s largest fruit growers and exporters. The company cultivates 4,500 hectares of irrigated farmland across the Warm and Koue Bokkeveld, Berg River, Sandveld, and Langkloof regions. Specializing in apples, pears, and stone fruits, it produces over 250,000 tons of fresh produce annually, supplying both domestic and global markets through expansive orchards and packhouses.
8. Westfalia Fruit Estates – South Africa
Location: Tzaneen, Limpopo Province
Size: Approximately 1,800 hectares of avocado orchards
Overview: Westfalia Fruit Estates is a leading producer of avocados and other subtropical fruits in South Africa. With about 1,800 hectares dedicated to avocado orchards, the estate plays a significant role in the country’s fruit export industry. It is also home to the “Orchard of the Future,” a 13-hectare research initiative focused on sustainable farming practices
9. Crookes Brothers Ltd – South Africa
Location: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Size: Operates thousands of hectares across Southern Africa
Overview: A major agro-industrial player, Crookes Brothers cultivates sugarcane, bananas, and deciduous fruits across South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Zambia, supplying both domestic and export markets
10. Imota Rice Mill – Nigeria
Location: Ikorodu, Lagos State
Size: 22 hectares (mill occupies 8.5 hectares)
Overview: Imota Rice Mill, inaugurated in 2023 in Ikorodu, Lagos State, is Africa’s largest rice mill with an annual capacity of 2.8 million 50kg bags, significantly boosting Nigeria’s food security.
