Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
FARMERS have been urged to take up agricultural insurance to safeguard their investments against weather-related losses as the country prepares for the 2026/27 summer cropping season amid forecasts of below-normal rainfall in parts of the country.
The call follows a recent hailstorm that damaged crops at various stages of development in Masvingo Province, highlighting the vulnerability of agricultural production to increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.
With the possibility of a strong El Niño weather phenomenon this season, farmers are being encouraged to integrate risk management into their production plans to protect crops, livestock and other agricultural assets against losses that could undermine their livelihoods.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Professor Obert Jiri, stated that the Government was strengthening collaboration with insurance companies to encourage farmers to adopt measures that would cushion them against the effects of droughts and other extreme weather events.
He emphasised that protecting farmers from the financial consequences of weather-related losses was critical in sustaining agricultural production and safeguarding national food security.
“The Government is working closely with insurance companies to encourage farmers to do risk management to mitigate the effects of droughts and other situations that may affect the country’s food production capacity,” said Prof Jiri.
Agricultural insurance can provide a vital financial safety net for farmers whose insured crops or livestock are affected by covered risks, helping them recover their losses and sustain their farming operations.
Without adequate protection, farmers who lose crops to drought, hailstorms or other weather events may struggle to raise capital for the subsequent farming season, particularly after investing heavily in seed, fertiliser, chemicals, labour and machinery.
AFC Insurance has indicated that farmers can access insurance products covering various agricultural activities, including tobacco, livestock and grain production.
The availability of cover across different agricultural enterprises provides farmers with an opportunity to consider insurance tailored to the nature of their operations, the value of their investments and the specific risks they face.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union chief executive, Mr Paul Zakaria, said insurance should be regarded as an essential component of running agriculture as a business rather than an unnecessary additional expense.
“Agricultural cover for insurance is very critical, and our farmers should not lose everything; there is equity in insurance cover for farming as a business,” he said.
