In a bold move that is reshaping its economic landscape, Sokoto State is undergoing a remarkable agricultural transformation. Under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, the state is leveraging its semi-arid terrain, turning what was once a challenge into a strategic advantage for economic growth and export diversification.
Reviving Agriculture Through Irrigation and Infrastructure
At the core of this transformation is the revitalization of the 450-hectare Kware Irrigation Scheme. Originally constructed in 1954, the project had been largely dormant for decades. The current administration has not only rehabilitated it but also expanded its capacity, enabling year-round cultivation of key crops like rice, onions, and vegetables.
Officials now project annual yields of over 6,000 metric tons of rice and 5,000 metric tons of onions. This initiative is a cornerstone of Governor Aliyu's nine-point SMART Agenda, which aims to break the state's long-standing dependence on subsistence farming. The project's scope extends beyond crop production, including the desilting of Kware Lake, construction of flood-control dykes, and the provision of a water supply network for the Kware and Durbawa communities.
For local farmers like Fatima Musa, a rice grower in Kware, the impact is tangible. "Before now, we could only plant during the rains. Now our farms stay green all year," she says. "It means more food for our families and steady income for women farmers."
Positioning Sokoto as a West African Agro-Export Powerhouse
The vision for Sokoto's agricultural sector extends far beyond local food security. The state is strategically positioning itself as a credible agro-export hub. Despite being landlocked, its geography is a significant asset; it shares a border with the Niger Republic and is close to trade corridors leading to Burkina Faso and other Sahelian economies.
The state is capitalizing on regional integration under ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The existing model of exporting cement to Niger and Burkina Faso by road is now being adapted for agricultural produce like onions, rice, and processed moringa products.
A critical part of this strategy is moving away from the export of raw materials. The state is actively investing in processing and packaging facilities to add value, extend shelf life, and meet stringent international quality standards. For instance, processing onions into flakes or powder reduces post-harvest losses and allows for cost-effective sea freight.
To streamline the export process, the government has established a One-Stop Export Office, housing federal agencies like the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NAFDAC, and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under one roof. This significantly eases regulatory compliance for local businesses.
Confronting Challenges with Climate-Smart Solutions and Investment
Any modern agricultural plan must address the threat of climate change. Sokoto's semi-arid ecology faces erratic rainfall, desert encroachment, and heat stress. In response, the administration has integrated climate-smart agriculture into its policies.
This includes deploying solar-powered pumps at irrigation sites to reduce diesel dependence and training farmers in the use of drought-tolerant seed varieties and organic fertilizers. Pilot schemes for moringa agro-forestry are also underway, a model that improves soil fertility while producing exportable products.
Dr. Halima Dan-Sani, an agricultural economist at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, affirms the strategy's comprehensiveness: "Sokoto's approach of combining irrigation revival with renewable energy and agro-processing is one of the most comprehensive plans that we've seen in northern Nigeria. It addresses both productivity and sustainability."
To sustain these ambitions, parallel investments are being made in critical infrastructure. The ongoing rehabilitation of the Kware–Illela road improves access to border points, and plans for a modern air cargo terminal at Sokoto International Airport are in discussion with private investors.
The potential economic impact is substantial. Preliminary projections indicate that expanded irrigation and processing zones could create over 10,000 direct jobs and inject N15 billion to N20 billion annually into the state's economy within the next five years.
While challenges such as regional insecurity and access to financing for smallholder farmers persist, the state's data-driven approach, spearheaded by Governor Aliyu's background as an accountant, embeds accountability and aims to present agriculture as a bankable business. If sustained, Sokoto's agricultural revolution could make it a breadbasket for northwestern Nigeria and a recognizable name in global agro-exports.
