Farmers urged to insure cattle

Herald Reporter

Cattle farmers should insure their major asset, the animals themselves, says one of the banks offering this service, Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe.

The bank group subsidiary’s head, agribusiness Mr Tawanda Maposah said they were ready to offer sound financial solutions to commercial farmers for them to protect and maximise on their investments.

“We have a comprehensive portfolio of advisory services which cover a diverse section of the economy and Zimbabwe being an agro-driven economy, one such sector in which we provide viable financial solutions is agriculture.

“To that end, commercial farmers can take advantage of our experienced bankers from the Agribusiness Unit for solid financial solutions,” said Mr Maposah.

He also urged cattle farmers to insure their livestock against diseases such as anthrax, foot and mouth and January disease, which has been wiping out cattle in various parts of the country over the last few years.

Stanbic Bank head of client solutions, Mr Tich Zuze, said they work with insurance partners to provide comprehensive insurance cover, which not only protect cattle but extends to other livestock.

“While anthrax, foot and mouth and January disease on cattle are the major concern, the livestock insurance cover extends to accidental death, emergency slaughter on advice of a recognised veterinary surgeon and theft of livestock in raising units or paddocks,” said Mr Zuze.

Livestock covered include dairy cattle, beef cattle, poultry, pigs, sheep and goats. The cattle can also be insured against a wide range of other perils such as fire, smoke and lightning with up to 60 percent cover given.

The cattle are also covered against impact by road vehicles or railway locomotive, snake bites, accidental electrocution, non-political riot and strikes, malicious injury, flooding, earthquake and storm damage.

Mr Zuze said theft of cattle, for which there should be an accompanying police report, as well as use of force or violence against workers while animals are in paddocks or grazing in addition to calving losses are also covered under the comprehensive cattle insurance.