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China-Africa Trade Information Service
info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
Image from Broeman Insurance Agency
Although African governments are supporting crop insurance to cushion farmers in times of distress, the situation in Tanzania is different, and most farmers still face losses caused by natural disasters.
Apparently, the government has paid very little attention to crop insurance, despite chipping in to boost yields through inputs provision and subsidies. The current state of affairs is worrying agriculture stakeholders and experts, who have stepped up their efforts to ensure that cover is rolled out in the near future.
There are growing fears that if a plan by the government to address the concerns take time to materialise, farmers will harvest thorns as climate change takes its toll.
Already, growing signs of trouble are evident in unreliable rainfall patterns, droughts, floods, unending crop diseases and pests. Smallholder farmers are the worst-hit.
Prof Justine Mtaresi, a lecturer and agricultural consultant at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM)'s College of Agricultural Sciences and Fisheries Technology, says quick intervention by the government is needed to cushion smallholder farmers against adverse weather effects.
Government said recently plans were on the cards for the introduction of an agriculture insurance plan to cushion farmers against various perils such as adverse weather conditions.
It is also a way to encourage more people to venture into the sector, said the director of policy and planning in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Obey Assery.
Tanzania is lagging behind neighbours Kenya and Zambia in providing comprehensive cover to farmers.
In Zambia, for example, the government enrolled over a million smallholder farmers under its input support scheme, Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), on weather index insurance.
Kenya, on the other hand, introduced an insurance Bill to protect farmers from drought losses.
According to Prof Mtaresi, what Tanzania needs to address this problem is first and foremost, resource mobilisation and adequate budget allocation.
"There is (currently) no proper mechanism to encourage farmers, especially after various shocks; no post-drought livestock restocking and also there is no feeds or seeds aid to farmers," he said. He added: "Unless this is worked upon through an insurance cover, we will be prone to dependency on external food aid."
Dr Stephen Karashani, a former lecturer at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), said any country that is serious about encouraging agriculture investment considers insurance cover a priority.
If the Tanzanian government implements the insurance idea, more investors could be attracted to the sector, and the country could improve food security, he noted.
