By 1983, when drought hit the region, food shortages were widespread, and export crop production reached an all-time low.

By 1880 coffee had become virtually the sole export crop.

Production varied widely, and increasing amounts were used domestically, but at independence cotton was only the fourth most valuable export crop.

Experiments conducted here focussed on rice as a potential export crop, as well as cattle rotation techniques.

Main crop products in the 1980s were wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, rye, and hops (an important export crop).