درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose- Islamic countries are generally characterized by rural lifestyles and relatively young populations. Despite the global trends of accelerated urbanization and population aging, the traditional structure of rural settlement in these countries has remained largely unchanged. The present study aims to examine the structural factors influencing food security in Islamic countries by analyzing the extent and distribution of rural populations as the key contributors to food security, as well as the demographic composition and environmental structures that shape agricultural production. Materials, Methods, and Approach- The development strategies of many countries worldwide are based on the quality, efficiency, and spatial distribution of rural populations. The proportion of the rural population in relation to employment distribution across economic sectors and its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) are of critical importance to policymakers in both developed and developing nations. The research employs a descriptive–analytical method, utilizing reliable international data sources and global organizational statistics. The statistical population includes 51 Islamic countries , and the data are classified according to the characteristics and attributes of the study population within the research topic. Findings- First, Islamic countries generally possess rural structures and youthful populations. Second, significant disparities exist in settlement and rural habitation patterns across Islamic countries. Approximately 60% of the rural population of Islamic countries reside in just six nations -Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt- whereas in six others- Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Djibouti, the Maldives, and Brunei Darussalam- the total rural population does not exceed one million people. Finally, the capacity for agricultural production and food security across Islamic countries is generally fragile. Twenty-six countries have less than 5% of arable land, and twenty-seven countries exhibit an average agricultural value-added of less than USD 5,000 per farmer, rendering them effectively food-insecure and dependent on imports.

Purpose- Nigeria remains heavily import-dependent and under-industrialized despite abundant natural resources and repeated industrial development programmes. This study investigated how capital market efficiency and financial innovation influence industrialization in Nigeria, with specific focus on their relevance for rural and regional economic transformation. Design/methodology/approach- The study employed an ex-post facto research design using secondary annual time-series data from 2010-2023 obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin. Descriptive statistics and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model were applied to examine both short-run and long-run relationships among stock market depth and liquidity, stock market efficiency, fintech adoption, credit to the private sector, inflation, and industrial output. The study also emphasized the rural and regional development implications of financial sector performance. Finding- Results showed that Nigeria’s manufacturing sector contribution to GDP remains structurally low, and market depth is highly volatile. Fintech adoption exhibits the highest dispersion due to periodic surges in electronic payments, while stock market liquidity is relatively stable. ARDL estimates reveal that market liquidity and market depth exert positive and significant effects on industrialization, whereas fintech adoption and private-sector credit exert negative significant effects. Inflation is insignificant. The bounds test confirms strong long-run cointegration among the variables. The findings indicated that Nigeria’s industrialisation is largely driven by short-run financial dynamics, particularly stock market liquidity and credit allocation efficiency. High fintech activity, when weakly regulated, may facilitate capital flight and reduce productive sector investment. Strengthening capital-market institutions, stabilising monetary conditions, and improving rural credit access are essential for sustainable industrial development. Originality/value– This study contributed to the industrialization literature by integrating capital-market efficiency, financial innovation, and rural or regional development perspectives within a unified ARDL framework for Nigeria. It provided new evidence on how financial sector dynamics shape industrial growth in emerging economies.

After many decades, the cocoa industry opened up to various partnerships to enhance its activities and essentially chart a new path toward rural development. This paper used a descriptive survey design to assess farmers’ perception of the Cocoa Extension Public-Private Partnership (CEPPP). We selected 400 cocoa farmers and analyzed the data using descriptive and inferential statistics. Farmers expressed positive perceptions of the CEPPP and all investigated attributes. Farmers were also satisfied with the quality of extension services provided under the CEPPP. Age, education level, cooperative membership, household size, gender, access to extension and credit services, land ownership, and farm size influenced farmers’ perceptions. Cocoa farmers need to be made aware of the full range of services offered by the CEPPP through targeted campaigns and training programs. Since most of these services are free, farmers can take advantage of them to improve their livelihoods.