FARMERS INSURE THEIR FIELDS IN CHIBOMBO
TO upscale soya beans production through mechanised farming this year, Government through the Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme injected K2, 808, 199 matching grant to Augustine Mwenda Agro Centre (AMAC), one of the Micro and Small Medium Enterprise beneficiary in Chibombo working with smallholder farmers in the legume value chain, specifically soya beans.
AMAC Director, Augustine Mwenda disclosed that the funds are meant to support the provision of mechanisation services which includes planting and combine harvesting, provide inputs for out-grower scheme, bulking centres and satellite bulking at community level in Chibombo.
Mr Mwenda stated that emphasis is not only giving out soft loan agriculture financing which includes an input pack to farmers but also farmers insure their fields. Some farmers were sceptical while others were receptive after experiencing crop loss in their value chain in past years.
“It is encouraging to see farmers paying the insurance cost themselves before they access the loans which is in form of inputs. It is a requirement for farmers to insure their fields in the event of crop damage, that way the chances of defaulting because of climatic shocks are minimised” explained Mr Mwenda.
Previously, farmers rarely insured their fields resulting in massive crop losses when climatic shocks occur. This situation has led to most small-scale farmers either downsizing or abandoning their agriculture enterprises.
But, this trend is changing as smallholder farmers have become aware of the need to insure their produce to avoid crop losses and be guaranteed of compensation.
For example, Collins Tembo, is a young smallholder farmer in Kamishishi area in Chiyuni agricultural camp, which lies 65 kilometres from Chibombo. Mr Tembo explains that in 2005, he started by cultivating half a hectare of soya beans which is predominately grown in the area, coupled with one lima of green beans.
His main interest was soya beans and he managed to harvest 24 by 25 kg bags. He sold some of the produce to meet family needs, while hoarding the rest for household consumption.
In 2009, he increased his area under cultivation to one hectare of soya beans, through the use of the hand hoe and animal draft power. Sadly, that year was marked by heavy rainfall, resulting in crop loss thereby affecting his household food security.
“Unfortunately, I never insured my field and lost out when the excessive rains destroyed half of the one hectare I’d cultivated,” disclosed Mr Tembo.
However, for Mr Tembo this was a lesson learnt to always consider insurance of his crop fields as a farmer in the event of climatic shocks, he has cultivated five hectares this year which he has insured after working with AMAC.
Mr Mwenda stated that emphasis is not only giving out soft loan agriculture financing which includes an input pack to farmers but also farmers insure their fields. Some farmers were sceptical while others were receptive after experiencing crop loss in their value chain in past years.