Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Smallholder Women farmers in Gombe on Thursday, tasked Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) to facilitate prompt payment of compensation to individual women farmers who have suffered losses, adding that it will help build trust and confidence among farmers.
This was part of recommendations of Smallholder Women farmers at the end of a two day stakeholders consultative meeting on Public Financing of 2021 Agriculture Budget and Dissemination of report on Assessment of Government Expenditure, community score cards on smallholders women farmers, Access to Agriculture Insurance Services organization organized by Hope Foundation for the Lonely in collaboration with Action Aid Nigeria.
According to a presentation made on behalf of the group, Atiku Yusuf said aggressive execution of awareness on Government Agricultural Insurance Scheme within the rural community will help orientate women farmers on the benefits.
Yusuf added that local dialect should be employed in communicating the attraction of insurance noting that Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation should take seriously the education of their clients (farmers) especially Smallholder farmers on modalities of Insurance uptake, particularly the issue of yearly premium payment, even when no farm peril occurred the outgoing year, and equally paying their supposed benefits at the time of farm perils.
“There is need for flexibility, diversification and increase in agricultural insurance products with mindset of making it particularly more affordable, accessible and meeting the various needs of the farmers, especially Smallholder Women farmers.
“Awareness creation of Government Agricultural Insurance Scheme in rural communities, using local dialect in the effective communication of agricultural insurance education among smallholder women farmers.
“There is need for prompt payment of compensation to individual women farmers who suffered losses, to encourage trust and believe among farmers. Government Agricultural Insurance Scheme should target all farmers irrespective of whether they have loans or not, self insurance will be covered,” Yusuf stated.
On his part, the Executive Director Hope Foundation for the Lonely, Mansa Musa Adamu said insurance is one of the most important aspect of Agriculture.
Adamu added that without food survival may not be possible.
He said, “we will continue to advocate, sensitize our women farmers on the importance of insurance. Let’s do whatever that is possible to improve Agriculture for the sake of our health and economic prosperity.”