Crop insurance as a mitigation strategy to climate change

[JustusParticipant]

Farmers are abandoning crop insurance in Laikipia County

[CathySpectator]

Hi Justus, why are farmers not taking crop insurance? what are the challenges?

[JustusParticipant]

Hi Cathy. Major challenges are 1) crop targeting-Insurance scheme focused on Maize which contributes less than 1% of household income. 2) Basis risk challenges for both insurer and the farmer 3) Never met farmers expectation coupled with lack of compensation where loss is suffered.

[MaryjuanitaParticipant]

This is very interesting as in Tanzania we thinking of introducing crop insurance. So how are you addressing those challenges

[CathySpectator]

So the way forward would be to work with insurance companies to develop products which focus more on the needs of the farmers? How can we overcome the risks associated with crop insurance?

[SmartGirls AfricaParticipant]

Cathy and Justus, smallholder farmers have many competing needs for the little cash they have…adding premiums for crop insurance will not be easily adopted. Even though insurance providers can target and identify the appropriate products, african farmers will lag behind in taking up insurance.

[Author]

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