A university Don from the Department of Economics at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Professor Chika Aliyu, has identified key strategies to revamp Sokoto State’s agricultural sector and enhance food security, despite the myriad challenges confronting the industry.
He presented these insights during a public lecture titled “Strategic Enhancement, Value Addition, and Agricultural Development of Sokoto State”, held recently in Sokoto. He outlined a range of practical approaches to improve agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods across the state.
Citing official government data (Sokoto Government, 2025), Professor Chika acknowledged the current administration’s efforts, noting that 27,166 jobs have been created in the agricultural sector. He added that 250 tractors, valued at ₦22.1 billion, were procured to promote mechanized farming.
Additionally, he referenced reports (The Sun, 2025) indicating that 33,000 individuals have benefited from improved crop production methods and veterinary services. However, despite these achievements, he emphasized that several barriers continue to impede agricultural development in the state.
He highlighted widespread poverty as a core issue, noting that it limits both economic opportunities and agricultural growth. Many rural farmers, he said, are illiterate and often resistant to modern farming technologies. Moreover, the interest-based nature of some credit facilities (riba), which is prohibited in Islam, discourages many Muslim farmers from accessing such financial services.
Environmental and security challenges were also cited as major concerns. Volatile weather patterns, frequent flooding, and climate-related threats continue to affect farming activities. Additionally, insecurity—manifesting in banditry, kidnapping, and cattle rustling—has significantly disrupted rural communities.
Despite these challenges, Professor Chika proposed 15 actionable recommendations aimed at achieving sustainable agricultural development in Sokoto to include Islamic Financial Solutions to provide credit through interest-free Islamic finance models such as Mudarabah, Musharakah, Salam, Ijarah, and Istisna; Islamic-Based Farming Practices to promote traditional Islamic farming contracts like Muzara’ah, Musaqah, and Mugharasah; Agri-Business Promotion to support the establishment of agro-based SMEs to generate jobs and add value to raw farm produce; and Awareness and Mobilization to utilize mosques, churches, radio, and television to raise awareness about agriculture and reduce dependency on the oil sector.
Others are Security Enhancement to strengthen rural security to enable safe access to farmland and protect agricultural investments; Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to foster collaboration between government and the private sector to boost productivity; Infrastructure Development to invest in roads, silos, storage facilities, markets, and irrigation systems to support the agricultural value chain; Extension Services & Capacity Building to expand extension services and provide continuous training to enhance farmers’ technical knowledge; Stakeholder Collaboration to engage both local and international partners to drive innovation and investment; and Climate Change Preparedness, which seeks to implement early warning systems and responsive strategies to address floods, droughts, pest outbreaks, and plant diseases.
He also suggested Monitoring & Evaluation to conduct routine evaluations of agricultural projects to ensure effectiveness and guide policy formulation; Women’s Participation to encourage greater involvement of women in agriculture through models that align with Islamic practices, including participation via male proxies or within purdah; UNIDO Partnership to collaborate with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to formulate an Industrial Policy Document for agro-industrial growth.
Professor Chika noted that Kebbi and Gombe states have made progress in this regard, with him serving as the lead expert.
- Land Revival (Ihya’al-Mawat) – In line with Islamic law (Shariah), support the revitalization of unused or barren land and promote land grants (Iqta’) to expand agricultural activities in predominantly Muslim communities.
- Commodity Boards – Establish commodity boards to improve market access, stabilize prices, and ensure affordable input supply for farmers.
Professor Chika concluded by emphasizing that with deliberate commitment to implementing these recommendations, Sokoto State’s agricultural sector can be transformed, leading to significant improvements in food security and rural development.
