How to Export Agricultural Products From Africa: A Step-by-Step Guide for Farmers (2026)

If you want to export agricultural products from Africa, the first thing to accept is that there is no single African rulebook. Each country has its own export promotion body, its own plant-health agency and its own paperwork, and each crop has its own conditions. A grain exporter in Uganda, a fresh-produce exporter in Kenya and a cashew or cocoa seller in Ghana or Nigeria will not follow identical steps. This guide gives you the order of work that applies almost everywhere, names the official bodies to deal with, and tells you where to check the details for your own crop. Rules change, so confirm every step with the authority named below before you ship.

Step 1: Choose your crop and your target market first

Start with the buyer's country, not the paperwork. The importing country decides what your consignment must prove: that it is free of listed pests, that pesticide residues are within limits, that it is labelled and packed a certain way. Work backwards from there.

For European destinations, the European Commission's Access2Markets service explains how EU imports work. It says one tariff applies across the EU customs union, that tariffs may be reduced or removed under a trade agreement only if your product meets the rules of origin, that many plant products need a phytosanitary certificate, and that an importer in the EU needs an EORI number. It also points exporters to its My Trade Assistant tool for product-specific rules and tariffs. For other destinations, ask your buyer to send their written import requirements for your exact product.

Know your product's HS code (customs classification). Buyers, customs and inspectors all use it.
Ask the buyer which certificates they need for your product, and in what form.
Check whether the destination needs an import permit issued to the buyer before you ship. Some plant-health systems start with that permit.

Step 2: Register as an exporter in your country

Most countries want exporters on a register before they will issue export certificates. What that looks like depends on where you are.

Nigeria: The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says exporter registration can only be done on its e-registration platform and leads to an Exporter's Certificate. For a limited liability company it lists the CAC certificate of incorporation, the memorandum and articles, CAC Form 1.1 (or a status report) and a board resolution with the company seal; cooperatives and NGOs have their own lists. NEPC's page listed a new-registration fee of ₦13,500 (excluding payment charges) when we checked in October 2026, with certificates valid for an initial 24 months. Fees and documents can change, so read the current page.
Ghana: The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) describes a sequence: register your business with the Registrar General's Department, register as an exporter with GEPA, then deal with the relevant permit-issuing agency for your product, which inspects your premises and production facilities. After registration, the permit-issuing agency tests samples and inspects each consignment and issues an Export Consignment Certificate per shipment. Exports then clear GRA Customs at the exit point.
Kenya: Export promotion sits with the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA), which was set up in 2019 and took over the roles of the former Export Promotion Council and Brand Kenya. For plant products, KEPHIS runs its own exporter registration: you apply in writing to its Managing Director with documents that include an export licence from the HCD, a company registration certificate, a KRA PIN certificate and directors' IDs, any grower contracts, and details of your farm locations, crops, acreage and destination markets. KEPHIS then audits your systems and requires training on its Electronic Certification System.
Uganda: The Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB) lists a one-time pre-export route: register with UEPB or the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, get a recommendation letter to the Ministry of Agriculture (MAAIF), have your packhouse inspected by a designated inspector, fix any problems, and obtain an Export Number.

Whatever the country, aggregators who buy from many smallholders should record which farm each batch came from. Several systems above ask about contracted growers and farm locations.

Step 3: Get plant-health inspection and a phytosanitary certificate

For fresh produce, grains, pulses, oilseeds and many other crops, the key document is the phytosanitary certificate, issued by the national plant-health agency of the exporting country. Examples: the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), KEPHIS in Kenya, and MAAIF's Department of Crop Inspection and Certification in Uganda.

Nigeria: NAQS says the inspection of an export consignment is mandatory, that exports without a phytosanitary certificate risk being rejected or destroyed, and that plant, animal and aquatic products for export must be inspected and certified before packaging and labelling and declared to NAQS at least 24 hours before departure.
Kenya: KEPHIS says inspectors visit growers during the growing period, check consignments at airports, seaports and border posts, and look at pests and disease, maximum residue level compliance, grading, moisture and packaging. Consignments that meet the standard get certificates; others can be barred from leaving.
Uganda: Per shipment you apply to MAAIF for inspection, present the consignment, and collect the certificate. UEPB notes that grains may need fumigation by a MAAIF-certified fumigator, with a fumigation certificate before inspection, and that grains and tea are inspected in bulk.

Book inspection early. Do not pack and seal a consignment before you know whether the inspector needs to see it open.

Step 4: Check the paperwork and standards your buyer's country asks for

Typical export documents include a commercial invoice, transport documents, a certificate of origin where a trade preference applies, and the product-specific certificates above. Access2Markets lists a customs declaration, an entry summary declaration, commercial invoice, transport documents and certificates of origin as typical for EU entry. If you sell to the EU, remember that the tariff benefit depends on proving origin, so keep clean records of where the crop was grown.

Also look at the economics before you commit. Our guide to calculating true landed cost and the explainer on Incoterms will help you quote a price your buyer can compare fairly, and our exporting guide for Nigeria adds local context.

Step 5: Find overseas buyers and start small

Certificates do not create demand. You still need buyers. Comilmart is one place to be visible: you can create a free account and list your agricultural products, including before you complete verification. Verified supplier checks (KYS) are optional, but a verified badge helps a stranger trust a new supplier. Overseas buyers can register and send requests for quotation, and you can answer them through the request-for-quotation page and chat. We cannot promise that any buyer will find you, that a deal will close, or what volumes or prices you will get, so treat Comilmart as one channel next to trade fairs and your export promotion body's buyer introductions.

Offer a sample order or a small first shipment on clear terms, state your minimum order quantity, and agree who pays for freight before you quote. Check with your plant-health agency whether samples need the same certificate as full consignments, because the importing country decides.

Common mistakes first-time exporters make

Packing first and asking about certificates later.
Assuming one country's process applies in another. Even neighbours differ.
Quoting without freight, insurance and inspection costs.
Mixing batches from different farms with no records.
Relying on a verbal promise instead of a written import requirement from the buyer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence to export agricultural products from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya or Uganda? You will normally need to register with the national export body or agency and, for plants, with the plant-health authority. The details differ by country and crop, as set out above, so check the current requirements with NEPC, GEPA, KEPHIS or UEPB and MAAIF.

What is a phytosanitary certificate? It is a document from your national plant-health agency saying a plant consignment was inspected and met the importing country's plant-health requirements. NAQS notes that importing countries require it with Nigerian plant exports.

Can a small farmer export alone? It is possible, but many smallholders sell through an aggregator or cooperative that holds the exporter registration and handles inspection. Ask your export promotion body about support for small exporters.

Can I list my produce on Comilmart before I am verified? Yes. Farmers and exporters can list products before verification, and verification is optional. Listing does not guarantee enquiries or sales.

Getting started

Pick one crop and one destination, then write down the registration and certificates you need using the official pages above. When you are ready to show your products to buyers, create a free Comilmart account, list your products, and read how African producers reach international buyers online. Buyers looking for agricultural supply can browse the food and agro category. Sources for the official pages we used: NEPC frequently asked questions, GEPA export procedures, KEPHIS phytosanitary services and the EU's Access2Markets guide for import of goods.