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Nyandarua farmers to be compensated over crop failure
At least 1,200 crop farmers from Nyandarua County have benefited from Crop Insurance Compensation payout under the Apollo Agriculture Group in partnership with Associate in Premium Auditing (APA) Insurance Company.
According to Mr. Joseph Mutuma, an agribusiness officer with Nyandarua County Government and Mr. Gordon Odhiambo from Apollo Agriculture, they noted that the crop insurance compensation payout is done to farmers whose crops were adversely damaged by drought, pests’ disease, and other natural calamities leading to losses to the farmers who have already registered themselves with the firm and have also insured their farming activities.
They have encouraged farmers to insure their crops in order to benefit when hit with such natural calamities.
The registered farmers are enabled to buy pre-prepared input packages of seeds, equipment, and consumables from selected suppliers.
According to the officials, in Kenya, agriculture is vital to the country’s economy which has over 75% (percent) of people who rely on agriculture at various degrees for their livelihoods and hence the need for agriculture insurance as part of the broader risk management program and a key strategy to de-risk agriculture.
Speaking during the payout at Kasuku trading centre, in Weru Ward of Ol-Joro Orok Constituency, the officials added that in the past farmers carried a great burden occasioned by crop failure, climate change, pests and diseases but the private sector has come to close this gap and insurers have played a major role in ensuring that farmers have a steady income from their activities regardless of the weather and other factors.
“Crop insurance aims to contribute towards a long-term transformation of farming from subsistence to commercial agriculture. Further, farmers’ compensation during a failed season is critical for stabilizing their incomes and building resilience, thus leading to overall agricultural growth and development,” said Odhiambo from Apollo Agriculture.
Various stakeholders, among them government officials, have underscored the need to encourage farmers to insure their crops and to avert huge losses due to crop failure.
Many farmers lamented that they have incurred huge losses owing to failed rainfall, saying this remains a major challenge to their farming activities as climate and weather remain unpredictable.
Further, Apollo Agriculture challenged farmers to cultivate drought-resistant crops that will withstand harsh climatic conditions and eventually contribute to food security.
Mr. Erick Wanjau from Apollo Agriculture observed the need for farmers to also practice use of conservation agriculture (CA)—a set of soil management practices that minimize the disturbance of the soil’s structure and help to conserve soil, water and enhance biodiversity.
Climate change is threatening agricultural productivity and this programme helps farmers mitigate and overcome the losses.
He said the government was advocating for modern farming; thus, many resources have been directed towards agribusiness.