About a third of the people derive their livelihood from farming and herding, which have long been mainstays of the economy. The chief farming areas are in the highlands, around Lake Victoria, and along the coast. Because of scant rainfall, most of the country can be used for little but grazing.
Until the early 20th century most of the land suitable for crops was in large estates owned by Europeans. Since then, much of this land has been transferred to Africans and there are numerous cooperative farms and many small, privately owned plots. Some of the estates, however, have been kept intact. The small farms cover from about 2 ½ acres (1 hectares) to 50 acres (20 hectares) while the large estates range from 100 acres (40 hectares) to more than 5000 acres ( 2000 hectares). Many of the farmers live at the subsistence level and use traditional methods of crop cultivation. The use of modern tools has been on a rise since the mid 20th century.
The main food crops are corn, cassava, and sweet potatoes. Coffee and tea are the chief commercial crops and agricultural exports. Other cash crops include cashews, cotton, pineapples, sugar cane, pyrethrum, and sisal. The chief subsistence crops are corn, bananas, beans, cassava, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and wheat. These subsistence crops as well as beef and milk are sold on a limited basis. Cattle are the most numerous farm animals; next are goats and sheep. Camels are herded in the drier parts of the country.
Tags: Acre, Africa, african geography, African people, Agriculture, Community Building, geography of africa, geography of kenya, God, good news, Initiatives, Jope, Kenya, Kodera, Lake Victoria, Local Leadership, Natural Medicines, Pine Lake Covenant Church. rainfall catchment, romania, Subsistence agriculture, Sweet potato, targu jiu, the economy in kenya, Water Technology