Over 25 smallholder poultry farmers in Kaduna have received a combined ₦4 million in insurance payouts through a pilot initiative by Pullus Africa, Heifer International Nigeria, and Leadway Assurance.
The payouts mark a major milestone for the Pullus Innovative Financing (PIF) programme, aimed at de-risking poultry farming through bundled services including input financing, training, extension support, market access, and insurance.
The PIF programme, launched in 2024 as part of the Poultry Supply Chain De-risking Project (POSDERP), has trained 30,000 farmers, financed 166, and connected 3,000 to markets across Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Abuja. To date, ₦76 million has been disbursed in financing, leading to the production of nearly 30,000 birds in the latest cycle.
“This model empowers farmers and makes poultry a viable business,” said Opeoluwa Fayomi, Co-founder and CEO of Pullus Africa. The insurance, provided by Leadway Assurance and prepaid insurance premium by Heifer Nigeria, had a 92% claim success rate, with payouts delivered swiftly to farmers.
One beneficiary, Bitrus Nasa, shared how he bounced back after losing his birds in an uninsured cycle. “This programme gave me peace of mind and saved my business,” he said.
Government representatives, including Zakariah Pakachi, Director of Veterinary Services at the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, praised the model’s alignment, promising state efforts to support agribusiness.
Pullus CTO and co-founder Abisoye Odeyemi also announced upcoming upgrades to the Pullus app, enabling farmers to manage insurance claims digitally, while Heifer’s financial inclusion specialist Tajudeen Abubakar called for wider collaboration and sustainability beyond donor support.
Speaking further, Titilayo Ekundayo, event host and Pullus COO, echoed the sentiments of other experts that, “We’re proving that agriculture doesn’t have to be a gamble. This is a model that can scale across Nigeria.”
