At a Glance
- Large farms strengthen food systems and cut import dependence across major African markets.
- Billionaire-backed agribusinesses expand output with mechanization, irrigation, and modern crop varieties.
- Top farms support rural jobs, boost exports, and attract long-term global investment flows.
Africa’s largest farms are emerging as some of the most influential forces in the continent’s food economy.
Spread across Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, these mega operations are expanding output, reducing import dependence, and attracting new investment into African agriculture.
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. Their rise aligns with a broader shift: African agribusiness is attracting fresh capital, technology, and global partnerships at a pace unseen in previous years.
Governments are leaning on large-scale farms to close food-import gaps, hedge against climate shocks, and stimulate jobs in regions where agriculture remains the backbone of daily life.
At the same time, billionaire-backed firms, private investors, and multinational producers are modernizing operations with mechanization, irrigation, and high-yield crop varieties.
Across the continent, agriculture supports more than 120 million jobs and accounts for roughly a quarter of Africa’s combined GDP.
Shore Africa profiles these top 21 farms, some state-owned, others family-run or corporate, illustrate the scale of transformation underway. Their output feeds millions, anchors export earnings, and signals how African agriculture is evolving into a multi-billion-dollar frontier for long-term investment.
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.
11. Olam Farm (Nigeria)
Olam runs large rice and crop-production estates in Nigeria, supplying its integrated mills. The company is one of the biggest players in West Africa’s food-processing ecosystem.
12. Tswalu Kalahari (South Africa)
Tswalu is one of Africa’s largest private game reserves, operating as a conservation-focused farm with wildlife, tourism, and land-restoration activities on more than 110,000 hectares.
13. Zambia Sugar Plc (Zambia)
One of Southern Africa’s major sugar producers, Zambia Sugar operates vast estates linked to its Nakambala mill. The company feeds export markets and supports thousands of outgrowers.
14. Florensis Kenya (Kenya)
A major horticultural farm supplying flowers and seedlings to global buyers. The farm spans significant acreage and employs thousands in Kenya’s floriculture sector.
15. Addis Agro Farm (Ethiopia)
Focused on large-scale crop production, Addis Agro supplies cereals and oilseeds to Ethiopian processors while driving rural employment.
16. Green Agro Ethiopia
A commercial farm cultivating cereals, vegetables, and horticulture for domestic and export markets, with strong irrigation systems supporting year-round production.
17. Asutsuare Farms (Ghana)
A leading Ghanaian operation specializing in poultry, crop farming, and feed production. It supports food supply in the Greater Accra region.
18. Benso Oil Palm Plantation (Ghana)
One of Ghana’s largest oil-palm plantations supplying raw materials to the edible-oil industry. It integrates outgrower schemes and rural jobs.
19. Twellium Farms (Ghana)
A rapidly growing farm driving maize, rice, and poultry production. The farm supports local processors and strengthens food supply chains.
20. Zambeef Products Plc (Zambia)
Zambeef operates extensive farmlands for crops, livestock, and processing. It is one of Africa’s largest vertically integrated food companies.
21. Tana Delta Irrigation Project (Kenya)
A major irrigation-based farm producing rice and pulses. The project boosts food supply in Kenya’s coastal region and supports smallholders.
