The Ministry of Agriculture’s acting Principal Secretary (PS), Bongani Masuku, said the time has come for commercial farmers to insure their crops.

He said climate change had become highly unpredictable and very risky to crop production, and therefore insurance was the only way to lessen the losses.

“Many farmers are trying their hand in commercialising their crop production and this automatically puts them in business. So, in running a business you naturally face risks.

There are local insurance divisions that are now opening up to those in commercial agriculture, and even banks,” stated Masuku national radio yesterday. He said the ministry was excited about this because insurance will ensure that the famers’ efforts would not be in vain at the end of weather disasters. The idea was to keep them in business. The PS mentioned that the ministry was working with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) to strengthen the existence of such insurance service. Masuku clarified that the adverse climatic changes were not just focused on drought conditions; there could be severe hail and windstorms that can wreck havoc on any crop planted.

“As much as we are promoting insurance for agricultural produce, we also urge farmers to plant crops that can withstand harsh and erratic climatic conditions. For example cotton, cassava and sorghum are crops known to thrive where many cannot. Maize can too, if a special type is used,” said the PS.

He added that the special types of maize seeds were nowadays advertised by retailers and if one needed more information about them it was accessible. As far as food security was concerned, Masuku said the country was not in a good position, hence they encouraged homesteads to engage in agriculture, whether crop or animal.

Source - http://www.times.co.sz/