MAYFAIR Insurance Company Limited has introduced a weather index insurance cover for farmers who have received inputs from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) by e-voucher against the risk of loss due to crop damage by extreme weather events. Mayfair Insurance Company agriculture expert Humphrey Mulele said since the planting period is coming to an end, his company will cover the farmers on e-voucher programme in Choma. Mr Mulele said for the next planting season, the cover will be extended to other districts in the country where the e-voucher system will be in place. Director of Agriculture Peter Lungu has commended Mayfair for introducing the weather index insurance cover because small-scale farmers fail to recover once they suffer loss due to drought. Meteorological Department assistant director Oversease Mwangase appreciated the use of satellite technology by Mayfair Insurance to determine payouts for farmers. “From the recent rainfall seasonal forecast, we can see that the southern part is the most affected by the effects of the El Niño signal. Therefore, the weather index technology is ideal in this weather dilemna we face to eliminate human error when determining a deviation from the set threshold,” Mr Mwangase said. Choma district agricultural coordinator Robert Tembo said farmers have responded well within the short period that has been available for sensitisation. He urged the farmers to take up the policy so that they do not lose out completely in case their crops are destroyed by extreme weather conditions. “This policy is beneficial to farmers knowing that Southern Province lies in the region of minimal rainfall where draught cannot be ruled out in some areas,” Mr Tembo said. “It is encouraging to note that within a period of one week of sensitisation, farmers are coming to pay the premium. So next time we have to plan for more time to conduct the sensitisation. As of today (31/12/15), it is the last day to pay for cover for the month of January. In case of a dry spell of 20 consecutive days, these farmers will receive compensation for the loss they will suffer.” Two agricultural block extension officers under the Ministry of Agriculture in Choma, who have conducted sensitisation meetings on the weather index insurance cover, had something to say. “My block has seven agricultural camps and a total of about 3,200 farmers on e-voucher. So far, due to delayed rains, only about 40 percent of the farmers have planted. From the meetings I have held, the indications are that farmers are willing to take up insurance,” Mr Kelvin Michelo of Mapanza agricultural block said. Mary Muyunda of Macha agricultural block said: “The rains that have delayed have made the farmers to realise that the weather pattern has changed. So now the farmers have even started talking about insurance because they have seen that other farmers have suffered loss already.” Boyd Munkombwe is a farmer who lives in Kabeta village in Chief Mpanza. On December 30 last year, he deposited K35 for the weather index insurance to cover his one hectare field of maize. Having already planted and applied basal dressing fertiliser, Mr Munkombwe said although his crops last received rains on December 21, he is not worried because in case of a loss, he will be compensated. Weather Index Insurance covers losses associated with bad weather such as droughts. According to information obtained from Mayfair Insurance Company, coverage of the farmers on e –voucher started on January 1 and will continue up to March this year. During this period, cover will be against dry conditions exceeding 20 consecutive days. Automatic payouts will be triggered into the recipients e-voucher account as calculated by satellite data technology over the respective camps. The more extreme the weather, the larger the amount of payout to be made. But the maximum benefit payable under this scheme is K1,400 per farmer although partial payments of K200, K500 and others are possible.However, the guidelines advise farmers to be aware that premiums are non-refundable once paid, and some farmers who may suffer a loss due to bad weather conditions cannot be compensated if the weather condition at their field is different from the weather recorded by satellite over a larger area. Source - daily-mail.co.zm