Distribution of the certificates began yesterday at the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary (MMA) office at Onverwagt, where farmers gathered to formally receive documentation confirming their coverage under the historic UPL Crop Insurance Scheme.

A total of 1,139 rice farmers from the region are set to benefit from the programme for the current crop, a release from the Ministry of Agriculture said.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha met with some of the farmers yesterday in Region Five to discuss developments in the rice sector and to hand over the first sets of certificates under the government’s rice crop insurance programme, an initiative aimed at protecting farmers from climate-related losses.

The crop insurance initiative was launched in 2025 by President Irfaan Ali as part of the government’s wider agricultural transformation agenda. It provides protection against losses caused by flooding, drought and other climate-related risks, with the aim of strengthening confidence and stability within the rice sector.

Source - https://www.stabroeknews.com