THE Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, NAIC, has assured the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, to insure farmers across the country.
The assurance was made by the Managing Director, NAIC, Mrs Folashade Joseph, during a courtesy visit by the delegation of AFAN led by the National President, Arc Kabir Ibrahim at the corporation’s headquarters in Abuja.
Joseph who acknowledged losses farmers grapple with after flood disasters promised that the corporation is doing everything possible to assist them with affordable premium in order to reduce effects of the losses that the flood might cause.
She said: “All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, is paying a visit to an establishment that has been marching alongside Nigerian farmers in their onerous duty of securing the nation from being decimated through hunger and malnutrition.
“NAIC’s drive has consistently been that every Nigerian farmer deserves to be protected from the effects of weather and other natural hazards. These hazards are mostly unpredictable and inescapable in the process of primary production of agricultural commodities.
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“It is noteworthy that the impact of these natural hazards on investment of these categories of farmers could be devastating to the point of driving such farmers into hopelessness and despondency.
“NAIC is targeting 10 million farmers to have insurance cover, the majority of whom do not have access to credit.”
She also added that farmers need to be more sensitized and for awareness creation on the necessity of having their investment insured and secured, which she said partnering with AFAN will help reach out with the sensitization of larger number of smallholder farmer.
According to her insurance cover will be provided for various categories of farmers under a special sub-scheme.
Meanwhile, National President of AFAN, Arc Kabir Ibrahim, said all farmers in the country need to insure their farms and be protected against disasters, which they could have hope of recovering their expenses.
“We are looking at agribusiness as a country and as such insurance is important. What this development will do to farmers to give them the assurance that there is succour in the case of any form of loss.
“I want to assure you that AFAN is ready to partner NAIC to make Nigeria a great nation”, Ibrahim stated.
By Ebikiseiye Thompson
