The soil is sandy and covered with scrub bush, scattered thorny trees, and occasional baobabs. There are also large flat surfaces of hard grey clay at the bottoms of ridges, which provide material for buildings and pottery. The Kanuri are sedentary hoe agriculturalists, although almost all of the men practice some other occupation as well. Hunting is of minor significance, but fish are an important resource to villages along the shores of Lake Chad and the Yoke River. Horses are a symbol of prestige.
Most households use donkeys as draft animals.
Sheep and goats are commonly kept. In a few areas, the Kanuri keep large herds of cattle. The Kanuri diet consists of large quantities of millet, served either as porridge or as dumplings. The diet is universal, but the soup contents vary with socioeconomic class. Cooked foods are sold in the markets, and a wide range of canned foods are available to city dwellers.