Agriculture
Lack Of Awareness Bane Of Organic Agriculture Processes-Expert
Lecturer, Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, University of Uyo Dr. Jude Obi, has described a lack of awareness as the cog in the wheel of acceleration of organic agriculture processes and practices in the country.
Obi said this during his online presentation on `Organic Agriculture to the Rescue’ organized by Journalists Go Organic Initiative.
He stated that although conventional production system and practices have compromised the overall environmental parameters, organic agriculture practices and production systems have come to the rescue.
According to him, the conventional system was presented as the only alternative to sustainable food production and security but did not foresee the debilitating effect it will have on both the environment and health of humanity.
“The conventional practice was packaged, popularised and widely adopted either for the available knowledge as at then or for the selfish capitalist end as obtained now e.g. GM foods.
“While the previously practiced traditional system was presented as deficient in the prerequisites to feed the geometrically growing human population.
“The developed countries made tremendous progress with intensive use of systems that led to deteriorated global climatic conditions with which Africa currently does not have the capacity to withstand, therefore, we must go back to healthy farming.”
Obi who is also the Coordinator for the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture (KCOA) in Africa reiterated, however, that organic agriculture is about the dire need to feed the world’s growing population with healthy food.
“Humans has been confronted with strange ailments that are clearly pointing at the conventional agricultural practices, hence the need and every reason to practice agriculture with safety and health as priorities.
`Organic agriculture is the affordable way to provide quality agricultural goods and services in harmony with nature.
“Therefore, efforts should be made by all stakeholders to popularise the practice’’.
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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