The economies and livelihoods of citizens in East Africa are predominantly dependent on agriculture.

The sector accounts for 25%-40% of East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and Republic of South Sudan) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is a leading employer for over 80% of the population in the region.

More than 70% of the industries in the East Africa are agro-based and depend on agriculture as the main source of raw materials.  Agricultural commodities constitute about 65% of the volume of intra-regional trade in the region.

The agricultural sector is dominated by smallholder mixed farming; Livestock, food crops, cash crops, fishing and aquaculture.

a) Major food crops: maize, rice, potatoes, bananas, cassava, beans, vegetables, sugar, wheat, sorghum, millet and pulses.

b) Cash crops: tea, cotton, coffee, pyrethrum, sugar cane, sisal, horticultural crops, oil-crops, cloves, tobacco, coconut and cashew nuts.

c) Livestock sub-sector: cattle, sheep, goats, and camels, mainly for meat and milk production; pigs and poultry for white meat and eggs respectively; hides and skins for export and industrial processing.

d) Fisheries products: include both fresh water fish from rivers, dams and lakes and marine fish from the Indian Ocean.

e) Forestry products: include fruits, honey, herbal medicine, timber and wood for fuel.

In 2015, EAC Vision 2050 was launched as the long-term vision for six Partner States and provides architecture of the desired future state for the region. Vision 2050, prioritizes agriculture as the sector that will be the driver of industrial transformation, food security, rural development and economic prosperity in East Africa.

East African countries are always open for new technologies and solutions to increase their market share in the world wile supporting their farmers and trade.