The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Mutare Bureau
THE ZIMBABWE Farmers Union has embarked on a programme to assist farmers in acquiring insurance policies to ensure that they are protected against drought among other disasters.
ZFU is working in unison with mobile telecommunications company, Econet and a non-governmental organisation, Mercy Cops, in implementing the programme which is called ZFU Eco-farmer.
Mercy Corps offers expertise in Information Communication Technology in Agriculture and is providing technical and financial support to the product.
In an interview, ZFU provincial manager, Mr Daniel Mungazi, said they were targeting every farmer comfortable with joining the programme.
The programme will ensure that dependants of a member will benefit from a cash-out or funeral services in the event of his or her death. Among other benefits, members will receive crop insurance, livestock and farming tips on their mobile phones.
They can also get discounts on farming inputs from selected agro-dealers. To ensure transparency, claims are processed and paid out through the group.
The programme works well in areas with poor network coverage and limited Ecocash services.
The Eco-farmer combo offers benefits such as Eco-sure $500 cover as well as the Eco-farmer bundle payment. The bundle consists of, among other things, maize production tips of $25, Weather Index Insurance cover for maize crop failure for one season for farmers in natural regions one, two and three or cattle advisory tips for 12 months for farmers in natural regions four and five.
