At a Glance
- Africa’s biggest farms strengthen food output and support fast-growing rural economies across multiple regions.
- Expanding agribusiness operations highlight rising investment and demand for modern commercial farming.
- Sugar, rice and fruit estates boost national supply chains and create large-scale employment.
Africa’s largest farms are reshaping the continent’s food production, bringing massive gains to sugar, rice and fruit output across countries like Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and South Africa.
These vast farmlands, some spanning more than 65,000 hectares, highlight Africa’s growing agribusiness capacity and rising investment in large-scale commercial farming.
From Uganda’s Sango Bay Estates to Nigeria’s Kereksuk Rice Farm and Zambia’s Nakambala Sugar Estates, these operations are boosting food security, creating thousands of jobs and strengthening export markets.
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 profiles the seven biggest farms driving Africa’s agricultural growth.
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.
