Mapping Agricultural Markets, Land Use, and Accessibility in Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract. This study addresses the critical gap in integrated spatial data for Borno State, Nigeria, by analyzing land use and land cover (LULC) change, agricultural markets, and road network connectivity. Using geospatial techniques, we integrated 20 years (2002–2022) of European Space Agency CCI land cover data with a classified road network from DIVA-GIS and on-site surveys at seven agricultural markets to document their spatial distribution and associated produce. Agriculture was the dominant and expanding land cover, increasing from 84.47% to 86.23% of the total area (a net gain of 1,167.67 km²). Urban and forest areas also increased significantly by 110.05% and 156.82%, respectively, while grassland declined by 20%, largely converted to agricultural use. The surveyed markets form a strategically dispersed nodal network along primary roads, with clear produce specialization: northern Sahelian markets primarily supply grains and livestock, while southern markets focus on roots and tree crops. Lake Chad fringe markets like Monguno specialize in wetland produce and fish. The synthesis of these datasets reveals that Borno’s primary agricultural constraint is not a lack of markets, but an inefficient spatial linkage between production zones and market nodes. Many markets, particularly those serving specialized catchments, lack direct connection to primary roads, implying higher travel times and weaker connectivity that suppresses regional trade potential. Therefore, this integrated analysis provides a foundational geospatial dataset for resilience-building in a conflict-affected region and directly supports the policy recommendation for selective feeder road improvements to enhance micro-connectivity and unlock inter-zonal trade. Future research should expand the market inventory and employ advanced metrics like travel-time and entropy analyses to further investigate barriers to market access.