Abuja, Nov. 19, 2019 (NAN) The Federal Government/International Fund for Agriculture Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has advised farmers in Anambra to embrace insurance schemes to mitigate losses during disasters.
Mr Emmanuel Chukwukwelu, the FGN/IFAD-VCDP Agricultural Production Officer in the state, gave the advice at a sensitisation forum on insurance cover for farmers at Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area near Onitsha, South-East Nigeria on Tuesday.
Chukwukwelu said the programme was currently paying an insurance premium to over 2,000 farmers in the eight participating council areas.
He said the payment include the 750 farmers, who had benefitted from a N9 million fund set aside for the insurance premium.
“We want to further sensitise farmers on insurance because the weather situation cannot be determined any more.
“We want to encourage farmers to always take insurance cover when they plant their crops, rather than waiting until VCDP insures one hectare for them.
“VCDP insurance premium will only cover one hectare of rice farm for those that benefitted from our inputs,’’ he said.
He said the insurance programme was the only successful window through which the Federal Government could assist farmers affected by hazards like flooding, fire and pest.
Mr Andrew Uzoma, the State Manager, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Cooperation, (NAIC) also enlightened the farmers on insurance policies documentation and claims settlement procedure.
Uzoma said NAIC was preparing indemnity owed to farmers with claims in this year’s disaster.
He also said that the corporation had paid more than N132 million indemnity to farmers in Anambra farmers in 2018.
The manager expressed happiness that more communities were keying into the insurance policy.
Mrs Joan Ajie, a rice and cassava farmer from Ochuche community, appealed for early disbursement of farm inputs to enable the farmers harvest before flooding.
Another rice and cassava farmer, Mr Aloysius Nwadeghi from Umunankwo community, commended the FG/IFAD VCDP for the sensitisation visit
He said that majority of the farmers were ignorant of the benefits of insuring their farm.
