Agriculture
Harmonisation Of W/Africa Organic Agriculture Standards Will Enhance Regional Trade – Experts
Joel Ajayi
Organic Agriculture practice experts say harmonisation of its standards among the 15 ECOWAS members will enhance quality trade in certified produce and products in the region.
They gave the assurance at the closing day of the 6th West African Conference on Organic Agriculture with the Theme, ‘Feeding the World Without Poisoning’ at Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The hybrid 4-day event monitored had participants from across the world rubbing minds over how to ensure healthy, sustainable agriculture practices.
They assured participants that the harmonisation of the standards is for the good of the health of the people of the member states and their environment.
Mr Ernest Aubee, Head of Agriculture, ECOWAS Commission, Abuja, and Chairman of Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Regional Steering Committee, said that the standards documents would be submitted to ECOWAS for ratification and approval.
“In West Africa, we have different standards in different countries, while some countries do not have any at all, so this harmonisation will protect the interests of both those who have and those who do not have”.
Aubee said that organic Agriculture is developing fast at the global level, however, the pace is still slow in West Africa compared to Eastern Africa, Europe and Australia.
“This harmonisation will accelerate organic agriculture development, regional growth of food, and security integration.
“We want to achieve food security and safety, so that our people do not only have enough to eat, but eat quality and nutritious food.
“Therefore, I encourage stakeholders to appreciate and key into these harmonised standards when approved, in the interest of the region”.
Mr Rene Emmenegger, Project Manager, of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) stressed the importance of organic agriculture standards.
He said that the standardisation will not only improve development of organic agriculture in West Africa but also encourage export business.
He said that IFOAM offers a platform for organic standards setters to discuss standards and create synergies for standard development and harmonisation to also ease trade.
“Agriculture and certified organic farming without viable trade is not sustainable.
“It will bring diversity of produce, simplicity of the process, empowerment of farmers, and easy access to standardised produce and products in the region.
“It will also promote and increase supply of organic produce and products and stimulate the growth of the organic sector of the region”.
Dr Olugbenga AdeOluwa, Secretary, West Africa Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) cluster noted that political and financial support is needed for proper formulation and implementation of the standards.
AdeOluwa suggested an enactment of stand-alone EOA policies, strategies and frameworks that support the regional standard.
“These policies should give clear guidelines and full support to the production of organic inputs and products.
“The policies should have proper institutionalisation and inclusivity of all stakeholders and public-private partnerships.
“It must include a bottom-up approach in the policy implementation which offers farmers good opportunities to contribute to the process and ensure its success”.
Agriculture
PULA, Leadway Assurance Disburse ₦396 Million to Climate-Affected Farmers, Strengthen Food Security Efforts
In a major intervention to shield smallholder farmers from climate shocks, agri-insurtech firm PULA has spearheaded the disbursement of ₦396,697,672 in insurance claims to over 40,000 farmers impacted during the 2025 wet season.
The payout, executed in partnership with Leadway Assurance and supported by the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU), covered farmers across Taraba, Borno, Kaduna, and Plateau States who suffered climate-related losses.
The initiative was made possible in part by Bayer Foundation, whose $450,000 premium subsidy support in 2025 wet season helped lower the cost of insurance for thousands of vulnerable smallholders in 8 states, with 4 states receiving payouts. The Foundation is set to scale up its contribution to match the growing aspirations of state governments.
Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony in Abuja during the 2025 Wet Season Insurance Claims Payout under the National Agribusiness Planning Mechanism (NAPM), PULA’s Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Michael Enahoro, said the initiative goes beyond compensation, insisting that it’s about securing Nigeria’s food systems.
“Our focus is not just on payouts but on increasing food production. We must continue to support farmers who work tirelessly under harsh conditions to feed the nation,” Dr. Enahoro said. He called for stronger policies that directly impact farmers and reaffirmed PULA’s commitment to expanding agricultural insurance as a tool for resilience.
PULA’s data-driven approach to climate risk was key to identifying affected farmers and triggering payments. The company worked with Leadway Assurance to underwrite the risk, while PFSCU aligned the program with the national food security agenda. State governments also supported grassroots enrollment.
Gboyega Lesi, MD/CEO of Leadway Assurance, described the payout as “a reinforcement of a safety net that protects the hard work of thousands of farmers,” adding that “through climate insurance, we ensure that a bad season does not translate into total loss of livelihood.” He commended PULA’s technology and field structure for making rapid, transparent payouts possible.
Ayoola Fatona, Global Head of Agric Solutions at Leadway Assurance, noted that the 2025 wet season brought significant climate variability and yield fluctuations. “The true value of insurance lies in claims payment, especially in challenging periods. Our data-driven partnership with PULA helped mitigate losses,” he said.
Looking ahead, PULA and Leadway Assurance plan to scale coverage to 73,000 farmers in the 2026 farming season, deepening penetration of climate insurance across Nigeria’s food-producing belts.
Commissioners from the beneficiary states commended PULA and Leadway Assurance for de-risking agriculture, restoring farmers’ confidence, and building a more resilient agricultural sector
State-by-state breakdown of claims facilitated by PULA:
- Taraba State: ₦154,308,035
- Borno State: ₦127,192,472
- Kaduna State: ₦69,726,150
- Plateau State: ₦45,471,015
Total: ₦396.7 million.
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