• Kenya Maize Production rose to 3.3 million tonnes by 2021 as cropland expanded by 126% over three decades, KNBS data shows.

Kenya’s Maize Production Rises to 3.3 Million Tonnes as Cropland Expands by 126%

Publication date: 3 November 2026

Kenya Maize Production Rises to 3.3 Million Tonnes as Cropland Expands

Kenya’s agricultural land under crop production expanded by 126 per cent over three decades to reach 7.8 million hectares in 2021, with maize recording the largest increase in production, according to new data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).

The area under cultivation grew from 3.46 million hectares, largely driven by the conversion of grasslands into croplands to support food production and industrial agriculture.

The findings appear in the KNBS report titled Development of Land Accounts in Kenya, which examines changes in land use and agricultural production between 1990 and 2021.

“The matrix shows that grasslands were largely converted into croplands while forests were largely converted into grasslands and croplands. Similarly, croplands were converted into forestlands and this may illustrate the effect of agroforestry systems where trees are grown in farmlands,” KNBS stated in the report.

Maize production recorded the largest increase among the main food crops, rising from approximately 2.3 million tonnes in 1990 to 3.3 million tonnes in 2021.

Beans production also increased during the period, growing from about 400,000 tonnes to 700,000 tonnes. Irish potato production rose from 800,000 tonnes to 2.1 million tonnes, while rice production increased from 40,000 metric tonnes to 200,000 metric tonnes.

The figures point to significant changes in Kenya’s food production over the three decades, with expanded cultivation areas and improvements in crop yields contributing to higher output.

“Regarding industrial crops, tea and sugarcane production has been on the rise, whereas coffee and barley production has been on the decline,” KNBS stated.

The bureau attributed the decline in coffee and barley production mainly to sustained reductions in both yields and the acreage under the crops since 1990.

Agriculture faces land availability constraints

Despite the expansion of cropland, Kenya has limited land suitable for medium- to high-potential agriculture.

The KNBS report puts the country’s total land area at 59.2 million hectares, with approximately 97.8 per cent classified as land and about 2 per cent covered by water.

Only around 20 per cent of Kenya’s land area is suitable for medium- to high-potential agricultural production. The remaining larger share consists mainly of arid and semi-arid areas, where farming faces constraints linked to rainfall and water availability.

Grasslands occupy the largest share of the country’s land cover, covering approximately 40.16 million hectares, equivalent to 67.8 per cent of the total area.

Forestlands account for 6.1 per cent, wetlands 2.2 per cent and urban settlements 1.8 per cent.

The expansion of cropland therefore reflects a significant shift in how Kenya uses its land for food and industrial crop production. The figures also raise questions about how the country balances agricultural expansion with the protection of forests, grasslands and other natural ecosystems as demand for food continues to grow.

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