Agriculture

Sakata Seeds Strengthens West Africa Team with Dr. Hadiza Yaro’s Appointment

Published

9 months ago

September 1, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The former Nigeria Country Manager of East-West Seed, Dr. Hadiza Yaro, has joined Sakata Seeds Nigeria–West Africa Office as Sales Manager for Nigeria and Anglo-West Africa.

In her new role, she will oversee the company’s operations across English-speaking countries in the region, including Togo and the Benin Republic.

Her responsibilities will include servicing existing clients, building new partnerships, and expanding Sakata’s footprint across the continent.

Dr. Yaro holds a PhD in Agronomy and has pursued further studies in Marketing and Food Security across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Announcing her appointment, Vicente Celada, Sakata’s West Africa Director, said: “I am absolutely certain Hadiza will be a great addition to Sakata’s projects in West Africa.”

Over the past decade, Dr. Yaro has established herself as a thought leader, practitioner, and policy advocate in agribusiness.

At East-West Seed, she played a pivotal role in growing the company’s presence in Nigeria while championing smallholder farmers, particularly in Northern Nigeria. She has presented research on the critical role of smallholder farmers in achieving national food security and self-sufficiency.

She also spearheaded several agribusiness fairs and expos that showcased the impact of seed quality on crop yields events that attracted significant media attention. In addition, she worked with governors and state agricultural ministries on strategies to empower smallholder farmers and increase local agricultural output.

A native of Zuru, Kebbi State, Dr. Yaro is widely recognized as an agronomist and agribusiness expert. She is expected to bring the same expertise and innovation to her new role at Sakata Seeds.

Sakata Seed is a global company engaged in the breeding, production, and sale of high-quality vegetable and flower seeds, along with gardening materials and agricultural products. With a strong focus on research and development, Sakata offers a diverse range of horticultural varieties and maintains an extensive international network of offices and research stations.

The company also undertakes related ventures, including landscaping and greenhouse construction, serving both wholesale and retail markets.

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Agriculture

PULA, Leadway Assurance Disburse ₦396 Million to Climate-Affected Farmers, Strengthen Food Security Efforts

Published

3 weeks ago

April 24, 2026

The Gleamer

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: