Small scale farmers in Elgeyo Marakwet have been urged to take up crop insurance to help cushion them during unfavorable seasons.
Speaking to KNA, the Keiyo North Sub-county Agricultural Officer, Gentrics Machenje, says that most small scale farmers do not want to take up crop insurance because of the traditional belief that crop insurance is only associated with large scale farming.
She added that most farmers are also not aware of crop insurance or what organizations offer crop insurance services which keep them in the dark on what steps to follow to be able to access insurance services.
Machenje reiterated that small scale farmers need to change their mindset when it comes to crop insurance in order to cushion themselves against risks triggered by climate unpredictability.
“There are other benefits that come with an insured farm such as training on how to manage crops to be able to get a favorable yield,” said Machenje.
She divulged that few small scale farmers in Keiyo North have started to embrace crop insurance.
“In as much as the number is growing ,there are a number of farmers who do not want to consider crop insurance as an option to guard themselves against losses,” she added.
Farmers need to take up this opportunity to protect themselves against risks posed by climate change and unpredictability as crop insurance offers a sustainable approach to unlocking small scale farmers’ investments in agriculture while enhancing resilience and productivity.
Machenje concluded that with crop insurance farmers will be cushioned from fully carrying losses gotten from bad seasons triggered by unpredictable weather therefore have financial muscle to reinvest in their farms.
By Rennish Okong’o
