Farmers in 11 counties who are beneficiaries of the fertilizer subsidy program being undertaken by the government will receive a crop insurance cover of up to Ksh 7000 in a move to mitigate losses as a result of climate change.

The Integrated Agricultural Insurance policy rolled out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in collaboration with Pula, Bayer Foundation, Lemonade Foundation, SOMPO Digital Lab, and Etherisc on a pilot basis targets at least 250,000 farmers who are registered on the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS).

“Agricultural insurance is a step in the right direction, especially now that climate-related risks are not a distant threat to our livelihoods. This partnership is critical as it will not only protect farmers from risks such as drought and floods but will also promote a sustainable safety net for our farmers, mainly those in Arid and Semi-Arid areas,” said Samuel Karogo, National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) managing director.

The insurance product will be embedded into subsidized fertilizer distribution, supporting the government’s broader vision of enabling farmers to adopt climate-smart practices and data-driven tools to improve productivity.

The cover is equivalent to the investment needed for two bags of subsidised fertilizer which they procure from NCPD depots across the country.

“This partnership is about creating meaningful access to resilience. At Bayer Foundation, we believe that insurance shouldn’t be a privilege for a few, but a tool that empowers underserved farmers, especially women and youth, to thrive in the face of climate change,” added Mildred Nadah Pita, Head of Public Affairs, Science & Sustainability, Africa at Bayer.

Farmers are automatically enrolled in the insurance scheme when receiving their subsidized fertilizer. and is deigned to de-risk smallholder farmers from climate-related threats, marking a major shift toward inclusive insurance at scale.

Targeted counties in the pilot phase include Makueni, Machakos, Kisii, Migori, Meru, Nyeri, Trans-Nzoia, Kakamega, Kericho, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu counties with national rollout scheduled for next year.

Source - https://www.kbc.co.ke